The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has directed local government chairmen and overseers of development areas to put in motion machinery for the selection and installation of village and district heads across the state.
The Chairman, House Committee on Local Government, Assemblyman Muhammad Ibrahim-Alkali, gave the directive during the 2022 budget defence of the state Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs on Friday in Lafia.
Ibrahim-Alkali expressed concern about the present situation in local government and development areas on issue of district and village heads.
He observed that most of the village and district heads are operating on acting capacities and their salaries are not paid fully, hence the need for the call.
He warned that the state assembly would not take it kindly with any local government authority that failed to install substantive village and district heads in their areas.
He said that the move was in the best interest of the people of the state.
“The chairmen and overseers are to make the process for the selection, the ministry will give appointment after the selection before their installation.
“What they are receiving now is not even up to quarter of their salaries as most of them are on acting capacity and we can not continue like that.
“The acting of village or district heads is not in the interest of the house and the people of the state”, he said.
The chairman said the assembly would continue to make good resolution for development in the grassroots.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Minstry for Local Government, Mr Ishaku Danladi-Abari, said that the ministry had already provided the guidelines for the selection of district and village heads to the chairmen of the 13 local governments in the state.
Danladi-Abari noted that the selection of the district and village heads was solely the responsibility of the chairmen and overseers of local government and development areas while the ministry would issue appointment letters before the official installation as contain in the guidelines.(NAN)