LG autonomy: NULGE seeks state assemblies’ approval

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says it has put in place measures to secure the approval of state assemblies in ensuring the passage of the bill for local government autonomy. Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NULGE resolved to declare a national day of prayers to make the […]

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says it has put in place measures to secure the approval of state assemblies in ensuring the passage of the bill for local government autonomy.

Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NULGE resolved to declare a national day of prayers to make the members of houses of assembly to see reasons why local government autonomy was desirable.

President of NULGE, Comrade Ibraheem Khaleel, said the union would sustain its advocacy and ensure that the constitution review was achieved.

 Khaleel pointed out that the statement credited to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that the state assemblies should be held responsible if the proposal failed was very sensitive.

Khaleel said apart from organising a national day of prayers across all the 774 local governments of the federation, the state councils of NULGE would mobilise and sensitise members across the country to engage the members of state assemblies and councillors on the need to approve local government autonomy.

He pointed out that since the National Assembly had approved the proposal and transmitted it to the state assemblies, the union would do all within its power to make the state legislatures approve it.

On the issue of mass sack in Kaduna State, Comrade Khaleel said the union had agreed to support the NLC in organising a mass action against the “anti-workers and people policy” of Governor el-Rufai.

He pointed out that NULGE would organise and mobilise its members across the country to converge on Kaduna and participate fully in the protest when the date was fixed.

He said the anti-people policies of the Kaduna State governor and the activities of a cabal surrounding the president had disconnected President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the generality of Nigerians.

The union, which regretted that President Buhari and the APC came to power on the mantra of change, with promises to create employment for Nigerians, said the major political office holders in the government, especially the Governor of Kaduna State, had done the opposite.

Specifically, NULGE said the sack of 22, 000 teachers and 4, 000 local government workers in Kaduna State by el-Rufai lacked merit in totality and it was against civil service rules.