Indications emerged last week that the long awaited elections into local government councils in Nasarawa State may soon hold with the passage of the local government amendment law N0. 9 of 2000 by the state House of Assembly.

According to the amended law which was passed by the House last week, elections into local government councils in the state would henceforth be held within ninety days before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent council officials.

The amended law also reduced the tenure of the local government councils to two years from the previous three years tenure.

The new law also clearly stated that the person elected as a chairman of a local government council would have power to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the legislative arm of the council immediately after being sworn-in, or for its dissolution as provided for in the amended law .

The new law stated that no local government council may borrow money, take a loan or overdraft or any other similar facility or incur a debt of more than N500,000 without the consent of the legislative council.

The law, however, stated that traditional institutions shall continue to enjoy the 5% authorized from the joint account as is operational in the state.

It was also spelt out in the new law that all monthly returns of income and expenditure profile of local government councils in the state must be sent to the House of Assembly through the office of the speaker.