Enugu Govt Justifies Caretaker Committee In Troubled Nkanu West LG

The Enugu State Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Tuesday, debunked reports that it was planning to impose a caretaker committee on the community of Akegbe-Ugwu in Nkanu West Local Government Area contrary to the wishes of the natives.

The ministry’s Commissioner, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, made the clarification in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations Department of the ministry, Mrs Ifeoma Igwe.

THE WHISTLER reports that some members of the community, led by the president general of the town union, had protested at the state secretariat on Monday alleging that the ministry was conniving with some interests to set up a town union caretaker committee instead of conducting elections into the seats.

Commissioner Ogbodo, in the statement, commended the natives for expressing their grievances peacefully. According to him, “The thrust of this administration is security. Where there is no peace, no one can conveniently invest there. It is good to complain to make people understand what is happening.”

On the proposed caretaker committee, the commissioner said it became necessary because the tenure of the incumbent would elapse on July 23, 2025.

Quoting him, “It is the policy that the ministry be notified three months before the tenure elapses. Within the three months, a transition process is begun. Recall that the ministry invited you for pre-election engagements. During such engagements, an opinion came from your community asking for a caretaker committee. I never objected. If there is nothing that will prevent having the election, then we do the elections. If there are serious issues, we go for a caretaker committee.

“We don’t work with more than one constitution. The ministry wants to ascertain the truth behind your having two constitutions. We can’t also conduct elections when a community is in court. If there is any misunderstanding, then the ministry is to ensure it is solved. The caretaker committee is an interim arrangement to resolve problems when there is a crisis. The government sets up a caretaker committee to ratify these issues before going to elections proper. It is provided in the law. Some communities demand caretaker committees for three, six months or even one year.”

He promised to visit the community to investigate the allegations, and to find solutions to any issues in line with the supervisory roles of the ministry. The commissioner also called on the natives to respect their traditional ruler, and be law-abiding for peace to thrive in the community.

Enugu Govt Justifies Caretaker Committee In Troubled Nkanu West LG is first published on The Whistler Newspaper