The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says the aim of the agitation for local government autonomy is to free the third tier of government from the control of state governments.
The National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel said, if the autonomy is granted by the States Houses of Assembly, it will benefit not only them, but all Nigerians.
Khaleel who led NULGE members to the Ondo House of Assembly yesterday, urged members of the hallow chamber to support the passage of the bill whenever it is transmitted to them from the National Assembly.
The NULGE boss who was represented by the National Publicity Secretary of the union, Comrade Emmanuel Fashe, said granting autonomy to the local government will further strengthen democracy in the country .
According to him, “If you want to curb insecurity, we need autonomy. If we want employment for our teaming youths, vote yes to autonomy . God has placed you in this today so that your name could be among of those who voted for the freedom of local government . We want you to be part of history this time . ”
Members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) across Ondo state, had on Tuesday converged on Akure, the state capital, to throw their weight behind local government autonomy in the country.
Members of the union across the 18 local government areas of the state moved around the state capital in their thousands.
Marched through Oyemekun road, through Arakale road, displaying placards with various inscriptions as they sang solidarity songs to press home their demands before heading to the state House of Assembly complex.
The rally which was supported by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Judiciary Staff of Nigeria (JUSUN) was organised to lobby the lawmakers at the state Assembly for the smooth passage of the bill.
The NLC President, Ayuba Waba represented by Ondo state chairman, comrade Bosede Daramola who noted that the agitations for the local government economy had been on for decades and nearly actualised some years ago but was aborted midway, said labour movement in the country was fully in support of the local government autonomy.
Ondo state President of NULGE, Dr Bunmi Eniayewu insisted that the local government autonomy will aid rapid development and bring about continuous capacity building for effective leadership, hoping that the lawmakers would approve the autonomy in the constitution amendment.
In his response, the Speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Oleyelogun, commended the NULGE leadership and stressed the need for a functional local government system.
Oleyelogun who was represented by Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Olamide George said, “We have listened to you, and what is important to us is to support your agitation.”
“We all need to embrace local government autonomy to give us enabling environment for development, and this agitations must be a collective effort and we shall stand by you to achieve this agitation.”
Source: The Precision
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