Sunday Aborisade, Abuja
The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Independent National Electoral Commission and Electoral Matters, has proposed an extension to the tenure of Local Government Chairmen, in the Federal Capital Territory, from three to four years.
The committees equally proposed an upward review of the amount to be spent by candidates seeking elective public office to N10bn.
Our correspondent also learnt in Abuja, on Wednesday, that the panel also recommended that other elected officials of the six area councils which make up the FCT should equally benefit from the proposed amendment.
These proposals are contained in recommended amendments to the Electoral Act, which the committee is prepared to submit before Senators and House of Reps members for consideration and approval later this month.
When contacted, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, confirmed this development, in an interview with our correspondent.
Gaya said, “Since the National Assembly legislate on the Federal Capital Territory, we amended the tenure of the local government chairmen within the FCT.