Don wants NULGE to synergise with NASS on LG autonomy

A don, Dr Yisau Muslim, has tasked the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to work in concert with the National Assembly for the success of the bill seeking to grant full autonomy to local government councils in the country.

Among other things, the bill is seeking to recognise the councils as jointly constituting the third federating unit and also financially free them from the stranglehold of the state governors through the abolition of state-local government joint account.

Dr Muslim, who teaches at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, stated this in a lecture entitled Unionism as a Veritable Tool for Productivity and Necessary Safeguard in a Depressed Economy, and delivered at the end of the year/award presentation ceremony organised by the Atisbo Local Government Area, Oyo State, branch of NULGE held at the council secretariat.

He said the bill, when passed and signed into law along with other provisions of being re-worked in the constitution amendment process, would make the councils to function optimally and empower them to provide services for community development.

The lecturer, who was blunt in analysing the flaws plaguing the country, condemned what he called negligence on the part of governments in exploring tangible avenues for revenue generation.

NULGE state president, Sikiru Titilola–Sodo, expressed displeasure at the recent dismissal letters issued to so many local government workers by the state government.

He disclosed that efforts had been intensified for the verification of certificates of some workers with genuine cases, adding that, while the union would never support workers with certificates, it would also not sanction penalising those with genuine certificates.

He commended the management of Atisbo Local Government for prudential management of funds and for being at the fore-front in the payment of salaries, stressing that the cooperation of the management was still needed in the payment of refurbishing loan to cushion the effects of the economic recession on the workers.

The Head of Local Government Administration, Alhaji Kabiru Aleem appealed to workers to be steadfast in their commitment to their daily services in the council, pointing out that the delay in salaries would be rectified as soon as the economy improves.

Chairman of NULGE in the council, Aderogba Olugbade, commended the Caretaker chairman, Honourable Olusola Ogundeji, for showing concerns to the workers’ welfare requests put forward to him regularly.

While expressing the workers’ thankfulness to the management on the prompt and regular payment of salaries whenever allocation anytime allocation is received, Aderogba pleaded with the management to complete the payment of leave bonus and assist in the completion of the NULGE building secretariat.