The House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission, an independent agency that would be responsible for organising, supervising, and managing elections at the local government level across Nigeria.
The bill, which passed its second reading on Tuesday, March 25, was introduced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and read before the House by Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
If approved, the commission would oversee the electoral process for Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Councillors in all local governments, ensuring transparency, credibility, and fairness in grassroots democracy.
As outlined in the bill, the commission would consist of a Chairman and 37 representatives, each drawn from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Their appointments would be made by the President following recommendations from the National Council of State, subject to Senate confirmation.
“The Commission shall provide periodic reports on its activities and the outcomes of local government elections to the President, the National Assembly, and the general public, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in its operations,” the bill stated.
Additionally, the bill seeks to amend Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution to grant the commission authority to regulate political parties and candidates in local government elections.
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“The Commission shall be responsible for organising, conducting, and supervising elections into the offices of Chairmen and Councillors of all Local Governments in the Federation, including the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory,” it added.
Other responsibilities of the commission would include determining election schedules, overseeing the voting process, ensuring compliance with electoral regulations, and maintaining an accurate voter register.
It would also be tasked with enforcing campaign finance rules, monitoring political parties, and launching voter education initiatives to reduce electoral apathy.
Furthermore, the bill specifies that the Commission’s Secretary must be a legal practitioner with at least a decade of experience. The President would appoint the Secretary based on recommendations from the board.
In a related development, the House also passed for a second reading another bill sponsored by Kalu, which seeks to amend the Constitution by mandating the executive to submit any treaty signed between Nigeria and another country to the National Assembly for approval within 180 days.