Ondo gov suspends LGAs caretaker chairmen

The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has implemented a suspension on the caretaker committees responsible for overseeing the local government areas and local council development areas (LCDAs) within the state.

The suspension was communicated in a letter released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The letter was signed by Adewale Alonge, who serves as the permanent secretary of the ministry.

Aiyedatiwa expressed disapproval in the letter towards politicians who continue to present themselves as chairmen and members of the caretaker committee, despite a court ruling prohibiting their inauguration.

In addition, he requested the heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to promptly take over the role of the head of the various Local Government Areas/LCDAs on an interim basis until all legal issues are resolved.

The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has become aware that certain individuals who were previously appointed as Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state are still presenting themselves as holding these positions, despite their suspension by a legally authorised court.

As a result, I have been instructed to ask the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately take on the role of head of their respective Local Government Areas/LCDAs on a temporary basis until all legal matters regarding this issue are resolved.

“Additionally, I have also been directed to ask all HOLGAs to promptly recover all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs that were in the possession of the former caretaker chairmen, vice-chairmen, and other members, and to securely store them within their respective Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas,” stated the suspension letter.

According to Daily Trust, the suspension was imposed following a court order in Akure that prevented the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from initiating the newly appointed caretaker committees for the 51 local government areas and local council development areas (LCDAs) of the state.

In the previous year, Justice Yemi Fasanmi issued an interlocutory order in response to a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which prevented the inauguration of the caretakers’ committees.

The State High Court has issued an injunction preventing the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of Ondo State, who are also defendants in the action, from initiating the committee.