Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar [left] and NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad

Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar today clarified in Parliament the legality of appointing the seven special administrator teams.

This came after questions were raised by NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad on her right to make this decision.

Prasad claimed that by law, Kumar’s appointments of these Special Administrators are illegal.

“For the record Mr. Speaker, I want to just read through the Act and provisions and basically argue that the appointment of the administrators may be unlawful. I don’t have any issues with the people who have been appointed, but I think going by the Act, the appointment may be unlawful.”

Meanwhile, Minister for Local Government says that the Act clearly states the Minister has the right to make such appointments.

“In terms of governance, only yesterday as the Minister responsible I have appointed the special administrators and today Hon. Prasad was doubting whether the Minister has the powers or not. Let me tell Hon. Prasad that if he looks at Section 9A CAP 125, the Minister has the powers to appoint Special Administrators – so it’s not illegal, it’s legal.”

The Special Administrators will oversee the governance and operation of 13 Municipal Councils in the country.