Beyond News
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE Ekiti Stat
Z miss BMe Council has kicked against the action of two assemblies in southwest for voting against Local Government Autonomy bill..
The union described local government autonomy as a panacea needed by the country to cure itself of various challenges affecting its National unity and development.
According to the union, the issues of insecurity, poor economy, unemployment and ethnic conflicts which have lingered sparing decades would have been surmounted long time before now if successive governments have given free hand to councils to run independently.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti NULGE President, Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde, explained that it was painful that some stakeholders seem not to understand the huge benefit associated with the proposed council autonomy.
He said “For any serious government to stem the growing tide of insecurity like terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and meet the basic needs of citizens, such government must leverage on the influence of the local government administration and give it the autonomy to function as expected by the law.
“Unless and until, we are able to do so, Nigeria will continue on the negative slide towards disintegration.
“The challenge of perennial insecurity is largely caused by over-centralization of our security architectures at the central and state capitals or city centers has not helped seventy five percent population of Nigerians who resides in rural areas according to the available and existing demographic research, government at the Federal level cannot get to the nooks and crannies of the grassroots communities where perpetrators of the various dastardly acts of criminalities and vices being perpetrated almost on a daily basis reside.
“As at today, all of us know that Nigeria is bleeding badly, and the solution to fixing Nigeria is to allow Local Government to be completely autonomous
“Local Government @ will bring about increased employment opportunities,productive engagements of our youths and women in governance.
“With more funds at the Local Government disposal and more administrative powers to the third tiers, there would be more opportunities for Youths and Women participation in politics of their local communities for improved democratic values and robust representations.
Comrade Olatunde called on President Mohammadu Buhari to use his position as number one Stakeholder in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party and as the President and Commander in Chief of arms forces Federal Republic of Nigeria to prevail on State Governors to accept Local Government Autonomy to set a legacy that will write his name in gold in the anal of Nigeria history.
He noted that the attempt to suffocate and incapacitate Local Government by the other tiers of Government, particularly the state government should be discouraged for a reformed and well restructured Local Government system that allows for inclusiveness.
The NULGE President appealed to the two States in the southwest who voted against the bill to rescind their decisions and stand by the wishes of the Nigerians people instead of kicking against the bill for mere political ego.