THE FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIT COMMITTEE.

1.     INTRODUCTION

The Local Government System is a sub-government Unit established by an Act of Parliament Act 462 of 1993 to administer a local area, e.g. the Metropolitan, Municipal or District.

The Local Government Structure has the following:Regional Co-ordinating Council,Metropolitan/ Municipal/ District Assemble,Town/ Zonal/ Area Councils and  Unit Committees

The Legislative Instrument 1967, The Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Unit Committees) Established Instrument 2010 has reduced the membership of Unit Committees from fifteen (15) to five (5) members all elected.

The designated electoral areas are the basic unit for the Unit Committees.

These changes have brought a heavy burden on the Unit Committees whose membership had been reduced and the area size increased to electoral areas.

2.     RELATIONSHIP WITH KEY ACTORS

The Unit Committees need to establish good relations with the key stakeholders in the Local Government System. The effectiveness of the Unit Committees in its developmental process depends on a very large extent on the understanding and cordial or friendly relationship between the key stakeholders.

The key stakeholders are:

-        Municipal Chief Executive

-        Assembly members

-        Area/Town/Urban Council

-        Traditional Authorities

-        General Public

Although, some of the stakeholders operate outside the structure they need to be considered as powerful social partners whose co-operation and support will go a long way toward the realization of the developmental objectives of the Unit.

The Unit Committee is therefore at the base of the Local Government Structure to ensure that proper development, law and order prevail at that level.

3.     MEMBERSHIP

·       A Unit Committee shall consist of not more than five (5) persons elected at an election conducted by the Electoral Commission for that purpose.

·       A membership of a Unit Committee shall hold office for four years and shall be eligible for re-election.

4.     MEETINGS OF THE UNIT COMMITTEES

·       A Unit Committee shall elect one person from among its members who shall preside at meetings of the Unit Committee.

·       A person elected under sub-regulation (1) of this shall hold office for two years and shall be eligible for re-election.

·       A Unit Committee shall meet at such times as the person presiding shall determine and in any case shall meet at least once every month.

5.     REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF MEMBERS ON UNIT COMMITTEEE

·       A member of a Unit Committee may be removed from office if

a)     The conduct of the member has brought the Unit Committee into dispute; or

b)     The member has committed an act incompatible with his office as a member of the Unit Committee.

·       Subject to sub-regulation (1), a member of a Unit Committee may be removed by two thirds of the registered voters in the Unit voting at an election called for the purpose by the Electoral Commission.

6.     FUNCTIONS OF  UNIT COMMITTEES

1.     The Municipal Assembly may assign to the Unit Committee within its area of authority such powers of enforcement of any bye-laws enacted by the Assembly as the Assembly may consider fit.

2.     Be responsible to the Municipal Assembly through the Urban, Zonal or Town Councils Concerned.

3.     Supervise the staff of the District Assembly assigned duties in its area of authority.

4.     Assist the Town Council to enumerate and keep records of all ratable persons and properties.

5.     Assist any person assigned by the Urban or Town Council to collect allocated and contracted revenues on behalf of the Urban or Town Council.

6.     Mobilise members of the Unit for the implementation of self-help and development projects.

7.     Monitor the implementation of self-help and development projects.

8.     Take all lawful steps to abate any nuisance.

9.     Be responsible, under the guidance of the Registrar of Births and Deaths, for the registration of births and deaths in the Unit.

10.  Provide a focal point for the discussion of local problems and take remedial action where necessary or make recommendations to the Assembly where appropriate through the relevant Urban, Zonal or Town Council.

11.  Organise communal and voluntary work especially with respect to sanitation.

12.  Make special proposals to the Assembly for the levying and collection of rates for projects and programmes through the relevant Urban, Zonal or Town Council.

13.  Educate the people on their rights, privileges, obligations and responsibilities in consultation with the District branch of the National Commission for Civic Education.

14.  Monitor the implementation of any enactment regulating the use of chain-saws in the Unit.

15.  Oversee the performance of staff of the Urban, Zonal or Town Council and District Assembly assigned to work in the Unit.

16.  Perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Urban, Zonal or Town Council or the District Assembly.