Members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) across Ondo state, on Tuesday converged at 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 members 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.
Speaking at the state House of Assembly chamber, the National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, said the rally became imperative to keep the lawmakers abreast of the development before the bill is being transmitted to them for ratification.
Khaleel who was represented by the National Publicity Secretary of NULGE, Emmanuel Fashe, said granting local government autonomy will go a long way to checkmate corruption in the country while local government will be empowered politically and financially.
He noted that the agitations for the local government economy had been on for decades and nearly actualised some years ago but was aborted midway.
He however said the local government autonomy will “aid rapid development and bring about continuous capacity building for effective leadership”.
Local government autonomy is not about local government staff alone but it is about Nigerians, it’s about equal participation and even distribution of our wealth to the grassroots populace.
He however appealed to the members of the House of Assembly not to kick against the bill, noting that some lawmakers at the National Assembly who once kicked against local government autonomy in their various states have turned around to become advocates of the bill.
He said, “We are counting on your support, your support for the local government autonomy is essential, and with your support the battle for autonomy would be won soon.”
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.”
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