Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE has again reiterated her call for the granting of autonomy to the third tier of government in Nigeria.
The call was made recently in Enugu by the President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Kenneth Ugwueze and Ozor Ugonna Kingsley of REDFoundation at a media briefing organized by Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) for CSOs, NULGE, Enugu LGA Budget Clusters, and Community Leaders.
At the briefing in which the 36 State Governors and the Houses of Assembly were identified as “stumbling blocks” to the achievement of LGA Autonomy, Comrade Ugwueze said granting autonomy to the LGAs would guarantee accountability and transparency in the LGA operations.
He further noted that autonomy would bring about infrastructural development of the local communities as well as effective service delivery.
He said that since 7th Assembly, the legislature never took the case for local government autonomy seriously and that it was time to grant them autonomy.
Earlier while setting the tone for the briefing, Ozor Ugonna Kingsley, Executive Director, Rural Engagement & Development Foundation, (REDFoundation), convener of the event on behalf of Social Action, lamented that state governors and the Houses of Assembly are delaying the autonomy of local government.
Participants
Addressing the media, Ugonna said “The joint houses of the National Assembly has graciously approved the LGAs Autonomy Bill and are waiting for the states to ratify the bill so the section of the constitution can be amended. We are yet to see any Governor transmit this onerous bill to their State House of Assembly neither has any House of Assembly taken it upon itself to deliberate on for consideration.
“So primarily the objective of this Media Parley is to categorically tell the Governors and the Assembly Members that we the people know they are the enemies of the people and community development, that they have long enjoyed the pilferage of LGA funds for frivolous purposes and that this is the time to turn a new leaf.
“Finally any Governor and State Assembly member who fail to pass the LGAs Autonomy Bill into law should consider himself an enemy of the people and will be retired from politics and such persons have no business being in government and the governance space.
“This is the time for a new Nigeria and LGA’s Autonomy is the way to go” he concluded. (GMTNews)
