The Plateau State House of Assembly has revised the tenure of elected local government chairmen and other officials, reducing it from three years to two.
This adjustment, embedded in the newly amended Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Law 2024, was announced by the House Committee Chairman on Information, Matthew Kwarpo on Wednesday.
The legislative body made this change in response to the recent financial autonomy granted to local governments across Nigeria.
The decision followed the consideration of a bill presented by lawmaker Joseph Gokum, representing the APC Kanke Constituency, which proposed an amendment to the 2017 Local Government Councils Law.
Previously, the law stipulated a three-year tenure for local government chairmen, their deputies, and councillors.
The amendment reduces this period to two years.
This shorter tenure is intended to serve as a trial phase, allowing the legislators to assess the impact of financial autonomy on local governments.
It also enables the Assembly to exercise more effective oversight, with the option to make further amendments as necessary.
The Assembly assured the public that this change is in the best interest of Plateau State and not for any personal gain.
