LG autonomy not negotiable - NULGE boss

Category: Inside politics Published on Thursday, 07 March 2013 05:00 Written by Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano

Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has stated that the movement for local government autonomy is still not negotiable and also it will continue to protest the continued control of the local government by the state governments.

This was disclosed in Kano state during a press briefing held at the state secretariat of NULGE by the union’s national President, Mr. Ibrahim Khaleel. He said the continuation of state government’s control of local governments in the nation is a constitutional contempt that the union will not take lightly.

“The local government employees union is demanding for financial and political autonomy for the councils as well as job security. We also demand for direct funding of the councils from the federation account. Therefore the issue of autonomy of the councils still remains, it is not negotiable. That is why as far as NULGE is concerned, no alternative to local government autonomy,” said Khaleel.

He added that the union had gone round the six geo-political zones on a public awareness campaign and also took their protest to the National Assembly urging members of the National Assembly to alter the constitution in order to free the councils from the apron strings of state governments.