NLC commends N/Assembly over passage of LG autonomy bill

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the National Assembly for passing into law the draft amended on Local Government reform.  NLC president Ayuba Wabba gave this commendation on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja. He said the National Assembly deserved commendations for voting overwhelmingly in favour of Local Government autonomy in spite of […]

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the National Assembly for passing into law the draft amended on Local Government reform. 

NLC president Ayuba Wabba gave this commendation on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.

He said the National Assembly deserved commendations for voting overwhelmingly in favour of Local Government autonomy in spite of pressure from vested interest groups.

Wabba expressed optimism  that if assented to these amendments will free-up the local governments from the strangle-hold of state governments and widen the democratic space as well as restore the lost glory of local governments.

“The Local Government system of government known by various names, is the oldest form of administration, and sadly, the most abused and exploited in our post-colonial history.

“Until progressive decline and bastardisation set in, the Local Government represented the centre of administrative excellence, clinical efficiency, training, education, development, tax administration and effective commodity boards.  Local governments also represented maintenance culture of infrastructure including roads, environmental sanitation, functional health facilities, low incidences of corruption and violent crimes.  The singular reason for this magical performance was that local governments were close to the people and ministered to their needs,” he said.

 The NLC president called on the governors of the 36 states “to sheathe partisan or insular considerations and support these amendments in the national interest.”