Some LGs In Borno Exist Just In Name, No People — Speaker

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan
said a number of Local Government Areas in the name are existing
just in name with no people occupying them.

Mr Lawan, who opposed calls for creation of additional states
and local governments, spoke at the ongoing public hearing on the
1999 constitutional review held on Wednesday, in Bauchi.

“Borno State is already devastated for now. We don’t need
additional states and local government councils, because some of
the councils just bear names without people.

“So, there is no need for the creation of state and local
governments out of the present Borno State,” he said.

Mr Lawan stressed that Borno was also not in need of a state
police, because it already had the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)
which had been effective in enhancing security in the state.

Towing similar submissions at the hearing, Saleh Samanja, the
Yobe state Attorney General, advocated the retention of the
existing states and local councils’ structure.

“We recommend that the existing number of states and local
governments in the country be maintained and strengthened.

“Taking into consideration that even the existing ones are not
adequately funded, to execute viable developmental projects, not to
even talk of creating additional ones,” he said.

Mr Samanja said Yobe State strongly opposed the establishment of
state police as canvassed in some quarters.

“The state police can be abused for political reasons and create
more insecurity, rather, measures should be put in place to
encourage Community Policing under strict supervision,” he
said.

However, Sabiu Baba, Secretary to the Bauchi State Government
(SSG), said the State was clamouring for the creation of additional
states and local councils.

He noted that some states with a much lower population and land
mass than Bauchi, already had more local government councils.

Mr Baba said the state was, therefore, strongly in support of
the creation of a state and additional local governments out of the
present Bauchi state

The SSG said the state was also in support of the establishment
of state police, so as to reduce over-dependence of the state
governors on federal law enforcement agencies. (NAN)

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan
said a number of Local Government Areas in the name are existing
just in name with no people occupying them.

Mr Lawan, who opposed calls for creation of additional states
and local governments, spoke at the ongoing public hearing on the
1999 constitutional review held on Wednesday, in Bauchi.

“Borno State is already devastated for now. We don’t need
additional states and local government councils, because some of
the councils just bear names without people.

“So, there is no need for the creation of state and local
governments out of the present Borno State,” he said.

Mr Lawan stressed that Borno was also not in need of a state
police, because it already had the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)
which had been effective in enhancing security in the state.

Towing similar submissions at the hearing, Saleh Samanja, the
Yobe state Attorney General, advocated the retention of the
existing states and local councils’ structure.

“We recommend that the existing number of states and local
governments in the country be maintained and strengthened.

“Taking into consideration that even the existing ones are not
adequately funded, to execute viable developmental projects, not to
even talk of creating additional ones,” he said.

Mr Samanja said Yobe State strongly opposed the establishment of
state police as canvassed in some quarters.

“The state police can be abused for political reasons and create
more insecurity, rather, measures should be put in place to
encourage Community Policing under strict supervision,” he
said.

However, Sabiu Baba, Secretary to the Bauchi State Government
(SSG), said the State was clamouring for the creation of additional
states and local councils.

He noted that some states with a much lower population and land
mass than Bauchi, already had more local government councils.

Mr Baba said the state was, therefore, strongly in support of
the creation of a state and additional local governments out of the
present Bauchi state

The SSG said the state was also in support of the establishment
of state police, so as to reduce over-dependence of the state
governors on federal law enforcement agencies. (NAN)