How many councillors are there in nigeria

Expenses incurred in performing a function under the express authority of the local government and expenses incurred by a person who accompanies a council member while performing a function of the local government may be reimbursed.

A local government may also decide upon further types of expenses to be reimbursed. Sufficient information, such as a receipt, must be provided to verify reimbursement. Mayors and presidents are entitled to an annual allowance in addition to their meeting attendance fee. This allowance can be used for any local government related purpose.

The right to claim this allowance cannot be refused by the council. Council may decide the amount to be paid, provided it is within the minimum and maximum limits set by the SAT.

Tax deductions are available for the cost of providing entertainment for the public at large in relation to official duties. Councils also have the discretion to provide an annual allowance for the deputy mayor or deputy president up to a percentage of the annual allowance to which the mayor or president is entitled, as determined by the SAT.

Note: The SAT reviews the appropriate amounts for meeting fees, allowances, and reimbursements on an annual basis. All candidates must complete online induction prior to nominating for election, and every council member is expected to undertake further training within 12 months of their next election.

All local government services and projects are delivered with assets. Local government assets include everything from roads, bridges, buildings and parks, to computers and telephones, software and intellectual property IP. Throughout the year, reports are prepared to enable councillors to review council finances, ensure that the council is adhering to its budgets or make appropriate modifications. Nevertheless, the individual councillor should maintain an active interest in budgeting since the council is responsible to the community for the results achieved.

A councillor may also be called upon to explain the results to the community. Important to note: People who are prompted to stand because of one local issue need to appreciate that a they will be responsible for a much wider range of issues if elected, and b may not be able to be involved in decisions on that issue if they have a conflict of interest.

In recognition of this, under the Local Government Act a councillor who is absent from three consecutive ordinary council meetings without leave being granted by the council, is automatically disqualified. If a member wishes to be absent for more than six consecutive ordinary meetings, Ministerial approval is necessary as well as council approval. It should be noted that applications for leave of absence are usually supported but must be approved by council before or at the meeting s the council member is to be absent from.

Each committee usually includes a small number of councillors who generally make recommendations to full council. Many councils also operate using committees which include non-elected members such as employees, consultants or community members. Most local governments have monthly or fortnightly council meetings and committee meetings may be held several days prior to the full council meeting or on the same day.

Some local governments have other types of meetings outside the formal council meeting framework which allow councillors and officers to meet and discuss matters. If a council member is present at a council meeting, he or she has a duty to vote on all matters before that meeting unless he or she has a financial interest in the matter.

Without this background reading, it is extremely difficult for councillors to make effective assessments of issues and provide constructive input to council debate and decision making. It is also recommended that further information be requested if there is insufficient material available to make an informed decision. Because councillors are required by law to vote on all issues before the meeting, ward councillors should obtain information on, and remain informed about, issues occurring outside their ward but within other areas of the local government district.

Maintaining contact with electors, attending meetings of council, performing other civic duties and remaining informed about all relevant local issues is time consuming. Newly elected councillors will need to examine their present commitments and establish priorities to manage their time effectively. If it is important for you to have the support of your family or friends. Context — the general function of local government. Participate in opportunities for local government training and development provided for elected members.

All candidates must complete online induction prior to nominating for election, and every council member will be expected to undertake further training within 12 months of their next election after the training provisions come into effect. Close menu. Main navigation. The role of a council member Generally, local government council members, who include the mayor or president and councillors, do not have any authority to act or make decisions as individuals.

The role of a council member Providing leadership and guidance to the community People look to their elected representatives for leadership and guidance. Facilitating communication between the community and the council To be effective, council members need to understand the views of the people they represent. Councillors can keep in touch with electors in a variety of ways, such as: attending meetings of local organisations; being available and responding to residents who wish to raise issues or concerns; attending events arranged by the local government; participating in functions held in the local area; communicating with the community regarding council matters via a newsletter, email or website; and reading the local newspaper.

Determining policy The policy-making role of a councillor includes: assessing and evaluating community needs; establishing priorities for the identified needs; considering the allocation of local government resources; and convincing fellow councillors of these needs and obtaining their support. Planning for the future All local governments must plan for the future of its district.

Managing assets Local government assets include everything from roads, bridges, buildings and parks, to computers and telephones, software, and intellectual property IP. Being informed Attending meetings Council members have a duty to attend all council meetings to ensure that electors are adequately represented.

Voting at meetings If a council member is present at a council meeting, he or she has a duty to vote on all matters before that meeting, unless he or she has a financial interest in the matter. Being aware of local issues Because councillors are required by law to vote on all issues that require a decision at a council meeting, ward councillors if the district has wards should obtain information on, and remain informed about, issues occurring outside their ward but within other areas of the local government district.

Gaining and maintaining support Maintaining contact with electors, attending meetings of council, performing other civic duties, and remaining informed about all relevant local issues is time consuming. Accountability to the community Local government councillors are accountable to the council and to the electors of the local government district.

Public access to information Members of the public can attend all local government ordinary council meetings and certain committee meetings. They also have the right to access certain local government records and information, including: the register of financial interests; minutes of council and committee meetings; agenda, notice papers, reports, and other documents that will be tabled at a meeting; maps showing the district and ward boundaries; and local laws.

Disclosure of financial interests Councillors must disclose certain financial interests at council and committee meetings and in primary and annual returns.

Disclosure of interests affecting impartiality In addition to financial interests, councillors must declare interests that the community may perceive would affect their ability to act with impartiality. Freedom of information Local governments are subject to the Freedom of Information FOI Act , which gives the public a legally enforceable right to access any document held by a local government, unless it has been exempted for a limited number of reasons.

Financial protection and liability A councillor is not personally liable for the actions of a local government where that person has acted in good faith and is properly exercising his or her powers and functions under the Act. The role of the councillor is a legislative one. Their role is to make laws for the local government area, similar to what the House of Assembly members do at the state level and what the National Assembly members do at the federal level.

Councillors represent their ward at the legislative arm of their local government. This article examines the process of being appointed a Local Government Councillor in Nigeria. But as at the time of filing this report, there were no indications that Governor Willie Obiano would conduct a local council election before he leaves office in March next year.

This is because council election has not been conducted; that is why it is not functioning. The case of Anambra State is pathetic. Ex-governor Peter Obi conducted local council elections in and since then government has not held another election in the state.

You need the local government system in place for development of infrastructure like roads, healthcare facilities and schools, among others. There would be job opportunities when the 21 local councils are functioning. There are 21 local council chairmen, 21 deputy chairmen, over ward councilors to gain employment with an addition of about political aides if the local council election is conducted.

This large number of unemployed people is what gives rise to banditry, unknown gunmen, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc. According to Obi, the infrastructural developments on ground in the state were not commensurate to the allocations received by the local councils from the centre, adding that they must be accounted for. In the local councils, roads are terribly bad, no pipe borne water, health facilities are not functioning, no electricity; in fact, there is no government presence in our communities.

Commenting on the issue, Mazi Anthony Digwe, who is a staff of a local council in the state, said until a credible election is conducted into the third tier of government, no meaningful development would take place in the rural areas.

Don Adinuba, said that the government was not afraid of conducting local council elections but was respecting the laws of the land. Although democratically elected chairmen and councillors currently run the local councils, they appear to have become appendages of the state government, thereby crippling their activities. Olatunde Oluseyi, said the councils were in sorry state.

He regretted that the situation has grievously affected the masses and left the grassroots undeveloped. He accused the state governors of crippling the sector through the imposition of their puppets as chairmen and councillors. It has, in no small measure, robbed local councils of accountability.

People are no longer accountable; the local people are unable to vote for a candidate of their choice. What we are having now in the local councils is appointment at the instance of Mr. Governors now see local councils as extensions of their wives kitchens.

SIEC is a creation of the governor and he who pays the piper dictates the tune. This has robbed the grassroots of developmental projects that local councils are supposed to execute. Femi Olajide, blamed the failures of the local councils on the drafters of the Constitution. He noted that the local councils are a tier of government in a federation whose absolute autonomy ought to be guaranteed, frowning at the current constitutional provisions that give states power to determine the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of local councils.

Local council is the closest to the people. The secretariats are eyesores. The money coming to local councils has always been controlled and expended by the state government.

The council managers took over the affairs of the local councils on Friday, February 6, , following the expiration of the tenure of the former officials who were elected in December but assumed office in February During the inauguration of the officials, Oyetola had given them a matching order to commence the processes that would culminate in the conduct of local government elections later that year.

The Commission complied as it reeled out the guidelines shortly after. But since then, local council elections have not been conducted in the state. As such, the state government has been paying the salaries of council workers in the state. Speaking with The Guardian, some residents in the state expressed displeasure over the situation of things at the grassroots level as a result of the inefficiency of local councils.

We have already given up because we have no local councils. Another resident in Olorunda local council of the state, Mr. Tunmise Arowosafe, said the local council had not interfaced with rural dwellers for a very long time.

Promise said it was unfortunate that there were no checks and balances in the system as enshrined in the constitution.

There should be checks and balances. Read more about accountability and standards of councils. Scottish local government elections are held every five years and are open to anyone who has been registered to vote in the local authority area for the last 12 months, or has lived or worked in the area for that period. We determine the basic pay of councillors in Scotland and this cannot be varied by individual councils. The Local Governance Scotland Act Remuneration Regulations set out the framework for paying a salary to councillors.

Since May , the pay of councillors has been linked to the pay of Scottish public sector workers. In addition to their salaries, councillors are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme and entitled to payment of allowances for subsistence and travel, and reimbursement of expenses incurred when undertaking council duties.

In the Regulations, we place each council into one of four bands based on various factors, including the size of the council budget. The band determines the level of pay for senior posts within the council, namely the Leader of the Council, Civic Head and senior councillors those with additional responsibilities, such as chairing a committee.

The band also determines the maximum number of senior councillors which can be appointed by each council. The Regulations also specify the maximum amount of money which can be spent on senior councillor salaries by each council.