The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State, has demanded full autonomy for local government administrations in the country.
The union made its position known during a peaceful rally it organised at the headquarters of the local government in Nangere on Friday.
According to reports, the protesting members of the union gathered at the entrance to the local government's secretariat with banners and placards containing different inscriptions calling for full autonomy for local governments across the nation.
Speaking to journalists, the NULGE chairman, Umar Inusa, said the protest becomes necessary as the only language the government understands.
“We are demanding the scrapping of the joint account committee and illegal deductions from local governments' allocations in adherence to the Fourth Schedule on Local Government in respect of revenue sources, among other things,” he said.
Inusa noted that granting autonomy to local government administrations will result in massive food production in communities.
“All of us can recall that the issue of autonomy and independence for these three arms of government to operate independently has been an issue in Nigeria. And that has led to a lot of challenges,” he said.
He expressed optimism that autonomy for the local government would strengthen democracy at the grassroots.
“Abolish JAC and credit local government funds directly from the federation account,” he said.
He then called on the Federal Government to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct local government elections in 774 local governments across the country, saying this would provide employment opportunities for the youth.
NULGE's protest is coming as Yobe State prepares to conduct a local government poll on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
