Local Govt Union Wants Buhari to Probe State-LG Joint Account
Chineme Okafor
The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his ongoing probe of past activities of governments to the state and local government joint account.
The union yesterday in Abuja said its request for such probe on how the joint accounts states and local governments keep is operated became necessary considering reported instances of governors’ misuse of monies accruing to both tiers.
The National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel in a briefing with journalists at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union stated that the union had resolved to throw its weight in support of the fight against official graft in the country.
He explained that apart from its readiness to serve as a whistle blower in the anti-corruption drive, the union would also participate in the forthcoming march against corruption, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has slated to undertake on September 10.
“NEC of the union had resolved to mobilise its members across the 774 local council in Nigeria to Abuja to participate in the forthcoming anti-graft rally due to be convened by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“We hope and pray that President Buhari will also take the fight against corruption to the grassroots level, looking into all the issues surrounding the local government operations , particularly the operation of state and local government joint account, which has been bastadised by many state governments,” Khaleej said.
He further explained: “The money that has been hijacked completely over the years by state governors should also be of great concern to Mr. President and his government.
“As a union operating at the grassroots level, we are ready to avail the new administration first hand information that will enable it unearth some of the sharp practices that take place there.”
He equally stated that the union had resolved to re-strategise with a view to pursuing the issue of local government autonomy with the new government.
To this end, he disclosed that the union had agreed to have a retreat which would bring all relevant, stakeholders together to come up with suggestions on the best form of local government administration that could fit with the peculiarities of the country.