Autonomy: NULGE takes rally to Gombe, Lagos

The National President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel has said the union has garnered the support of 80 per cent of state governors to throw their support behind the campaign for autonomy.

He also expressed confidence in the ability of the state Assemblies to overcome pressure and vote in favour of local government autonomy, in the ongoing constitution review process.

Speaking during its rally held in Gombe, he said an autonomous local government system will put an end to the widespread agitations across the country. He explained that granting full autonomy to local government area will speed up development and reduce poverty.

Comrade Khaleel led members of the union on a rally round the Gombe State capital before addressing members of the state House of assembly in continuation of the national rally for the autonomy of local governments.

He attributed the rise in political agitation in the country to exclusivity in governance, saying Nigerians at the grass root are sidelined in preference to those in the urban areas.

Khaleel also denounced the situation whereby governors impose their stooges either as management committee chairmen or impose their cronies as elected chairmen thereby denying true representation at the grass root.

He linked the issue of security to the leadership crisis at the council level, adding that security agencies were helpless without the support of the people at the grass root who are in better position to protect their community if they have true sense of belonging. “The governors came to power through election but they won’t allow elections take place at the council level,” he said.

On the expected resistance the union may encounter, especially from state governors who may kick against the idea of autonomy for local government areas, Khaleel said he hopes the governors are already seeing the hand writing on the wall since there is a widespread clamour for council autonomy.

He however expressed hope that the governors would finally see the need to grant the councils autonomy.

The NULGE president called for the discontinuation of the state and local government joint accounts.