NULGE insists on local government autonomy

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees
(NULGE), said it would continue to advocacy the
autonomy of local governments till its aim was in order
to free local governments from the control of state
governments.
Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, NULGE President, said this in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on
Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the campaign will be a nationwide
exercise, first at zonal levels in Lafiya, Calabar, Lagos,
Kano, Enugu and Jalingo with grand finale at Abuja.
“Then all the 36 state branches and 774 LGCs will
conduct similar exercise in their domains under the
supervision of an assigned National Officer.
“We will mobilise to engage governors and other
stakeholders in the country toward the freedom of the
local government councils,” he said.
He said that if resources from the Federal Government
were given to local governments directly, the people at
the grassroots would benefit greatly because the
councils were the closest to the people.
“We remain committed to our demand for autonomous
council areas and we will continue to air our voices until
something is done.”
According to NULGE boss, autonomy of local
governments remains ‘’the cry of Nigerians to see that
they benefit directly from development at the
grassroots’’.
He said that if achieved, the autonomy of local
governments would also address a situation whereby
funds meant for operations of local governments get to
them unhindered.
Khaleel, however, urged Federal Government to look into
the realisation of the autonomy of the councils for the
people at the grassroots to benefit maximmaly from
their services.