The Jigawa government says it will soon conduct local government elections in the state following the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy.

The commissioner for information, youths sport and culture, Sagir Musa, said this during an interactive session with journalists in Dutse on Wednesday.

Mr Musa said that the state executive council (EXCO) had considered and approved a request by the state Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) to conduct the election.

The commissioner further said that the EXCO’s decision “is in line with the provision of Section 197(I) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the JISIEC Law No. 3 of 2012 (as amended)”.

According to him, the EXCO decision is in compliance with the recent Supreme Court judgement that all the local government councils in the country must have democratically elected officials and that elections are to be conducted in all the states of the federation within three months.

Meanwhile, an executive bill seeking to repeal JISIEC Law 2024 and re-enact Law 2012 has passed the first and second readings at the Assembly.

This followed a motion moved by the majority leader of the house, Lawan Muhammad, and seconded by Muhammad Inuwa at Friday’s plenary session.

Mr Muhammmad said that the bill seeks to repeal the JISEIC amendment No. 1 Law, No. 7, 2024, to re-enact Sections 64 and 65 of the JISEIC Law Cap J19, Laws of Jigawa State 2022 and for related matters.

After a unanimous voice vote by the members, the Speaker, Haruna Aliyu, referred the bill to the House committee on local government.

Mr Aliyu asked the committee to report back to the house on July 30.

(NAN)