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Appointing Auditor-General for Local Govtss against autonomy-Agbakoba faults Lagos bill
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Olisa Agbakoba has faulted  the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Local Government Administration Bill on the  proposed establishment of  Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.
Agbakoba, a former President, Nigeria Bar Association, expressed the position in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
NAN reports that the bill is titled: A Bill for a Law to provide for Local Government’s System, Establishment And Administration And to Consolidate All Laws On Local Government Administration And Connected Purposes.
NAN reports that the bill, which has gone through the public hearing ,is awaiting third reading  at the Aassembly .
NAN reports that Section 56  of the bill states that “There shall be an Auditor-General for the Local Governments who shall be appointed by the governor subject to the confirmation of the House.”
Section 57 (1) says,”The Accounts of the LGAs and all other offices of the LG shall be audited annually in accordance with the provisions of this section.”
According to Section 57 (2 and 3) of the bill ,the Auditor-General shall, within six months from the end of each financial year, submit a report to the House.and  the Speaker,upon submission , shall cause the report to be considered by the appropriate committee of the House, which shall submit its findings and recommendations.
Agbakoba told NAN that the proposed sections were not only unconstitutional but  contradict the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy granted to the 774 LGAs as the third tier of government.
The former NBA president  said  the State Assemblies  lacked the power to audit accounts of local governments in their respective states.
“Before the  Supreme Court judgement on local government financial autonomy, the issue of whether the  State  Assemblies have the power is what we call a threshold issue. In other words, it is something that requires careful thinking.
“Then, one needs to look at the nature of the powers conferred on the House of Assembly by the residual powers in the constitution, and the powers conferred on the local governments by Schedule 4 of the Constitution.
“However, speaking for the purpose of the litigation at the Supreme Court, which ended in a judgment in favour of financial freedom for the local governments,this would mean that the 774 local governments have now gotten financial independence and are free from control in respect of their funding that comes from the federation account.
“So, to now create an Office of Auditor-General in respect of local government funds in Lagos State seems to me to be kicking back from what the Supreme Court pronounced.
“I think it is unconstitutional because the Supreme Court made clear in its decision that local governments are free from the control of the state governments, and that is the final court, so that is what the law represents,” he said.
Agbakoba said he was happy to note that the Apex Court decided the case in the way it did , because for him, that was the start of the political restructuring Nigerians had been calling for.
The legal luminary wondered why the  Lagos State Government and other state governments  need to worry themselves with the burden of local governments when they  themselves have enough work to do.
” I don’t understand it. They already have their hands full”,he said.
The lawyer urged state governments to take leave local governments matters and focus on provision of education,infrastructure and other things expected of  them.
According to him,  politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be  free when the governors and assemblies were constricting local governments.
He said  the Presidency and  the National Assembly were not  constricting state governments in the same manner ,calling for total independence for local governments.
“What is the business of a governor, whether it is Lagos or anyone else, to worry? I would think a governor who has been told, don’t worry about local government, will feel happy.
“Also, I would also ask the House of Assembly, don’t they have enough work to develop Lagos into a first-class cosmopolitan international city, which it is not presently? Don’t they see Dubai?
“Are they not looking at even Saudi Arabia now wants to develop? Why would they want to compound themselves with an additional responsibility of auditing local government funds?”.
“Honestly,  I don’t understand this” he said. (NAN)
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.

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National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.

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He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.

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“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.

“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)

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Rivers Lawmakers fail to resume plenary amid ongoing impeachment proceedings against Gov Fubara

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Rivers Lawmakers fail to resume plenary amid ongoing impeachment proceedings against Gov Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, did not reconvene for plenary on Thursday, a week after adjourning its last session.

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During its first sitting of 2026, held last Thursday, the House had initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct. The charges reportedly included the demolition of the state assembly complex and unauthorized spending, among other allegations. That session was adjourned to January 15, 2026.

However, as of noon on Thursday, a visit to the assembly—currently holding sittings at its conference hall along Aba Road—showed no indication that the House would resume.

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No official reason has been provided for the delay, and a new date for resumption has not been announced.

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