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The constitutional crisis over local council chairmen’s tenure in Taraba State may have been rested by the House of Assembly, as members, in a closed-door sitting, yesterday, unanimously passed the amendment bill.
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Newsmen, who were taken unawares, were informed that the emergency nature of the meeting was necessitated by the industrial action by parliamentary staff.
Major entrance to the Assembly premises was sealed by striking parliamentary staff, which compelled the lawmakers to sneak into the hallowed chambers through alternative entrances.
Passage of the bill came as preparations for the local council election slated for tomorrow, was in top gear.
Reacting, Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information, Nelson Len, who said “we went through other entries” to access the Assembly chambers, blamed the parliamentary staff strike for the action.
Leon, who represents Nguroje constituency, said the action became necessary to meet up with legislative demands, adding: “Just because we needed enough time to go through all those bills, we went to the House earlier than usual.”
“You are aware that our local council election is just around the corner and allowing such a bill to be pending could jeopardise the good intentions of the governor towards the election.”
The bill in question, The Guardian gathered, was reviewed from three years to two years.
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