The Imo State House of Assembly, led by Chiji Collins has abolished the 4th tier government introduced by the former Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
The 4th tier government, otherwise known as Community Government Council, CGC, was set up by the former Governor during his second tenure to compliment the work of the town unions.
DAILY POST reports that the scrapping followed a bill sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Uche Ogbuagu which asked for the amendment of Imo state of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters as contained in law No. 15 of 2016 (as amended).
The Majority Leader while presenting the bill recently at the plenary, said that the CGC arrangement by the former Governor was illegal as it had no constitutional backing.
“Members of the previous House who are still here with us have confirmed that the CGC bill was passed into law due to pressure mounted on them by the previous government. Quite frankly, the introduction of CGC almost ruined the foremost town unionism in the state.
“Let me shock you, from our research, the retired traditional council chairman of Ndi Eze Imo and their deputies were paid monthly remuneration of N500,000 and N250,000 respectively,” he said.
He expressed regret how Imo tax payers money was mismanaged through the CGC formation, hoping that its repealing will correct the anomaly.
It was learned that the Governor, by the passage of the bill, only reserves the right to appoint the chairman and the deputy of the State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Meanwhile, the bill, according to reports has been signed into law by the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma