Who is a Local Government Councillor?
A Local Government Councillor is a member of the Local Government Council who participates in the decision-making of the Council and represents the local community in that decision making. He also contributes to the strategic direction of the Council through the development and review of key strategic documents of the Council, including the Council Plan.
The Councillor is obliged to consider the diversity of interests and needs of the local community and observe principles of good governance and act with integrity. In addition, the Councillor participates in the responsible allocation of resources of Council through the annual budget and facilitates effective communication between the Council and the community
Qualification as a Councillor
- Must be at least 25 years old.
- Must be a member of a political party and must be sponsored by the party.
- Must hold the minimum of School Certificate or its equivalent.
Disqualification to contest as a Councillor
- Has declared allegiance to another country;
- Has been elected to the office of President or Governor office at any two previous elections;
- Is adjudged to be a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind;
- Is under a sentence of death; or imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud;
- Has in the last 10 years been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty;
- Has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct;
- Is an undischarged bankrupt;
- Is employed in the public service and does not resign, withdraw or retire at least 30 days to the election;
- Is a member of a secret society;
- Has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial committee of inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal AND which indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government;
- Has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
A candidate is expected to fulfil all conditions to be qualified.
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We hope you have found this information helpful. Please note that this information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. No lawyer-client relationship is formed nor should any such relationship be implied. This answer is not intended to substitute for the advice of a qualified lawyer. If you require legal advice, please consult with a qualified lawyer.