The Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria has called on states yet to approve the local government autonomy to do so, to ensure freedom and independence.
Lawrence Onochukwu, the Chairman of the association, said this at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.
Onochukwu said the National Assembly had approved autonomy for local governments and forwarded to state houses of assembly to follow suit.
According to him, the autonomy bill requires two-third of the state houses of assembly, which, according to him, about 12 states have given approval while still waiting for others.
Onochukwu, who is also the Vice Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, appealed to other states to take a cue from the 12 states.
According to him, autonomy is being independent and free and when you don’t have such, there will be no room for development.
He said all the vice chairmen of the 774 local governments in the country were coming together to contribute their quota to the development of the country, adding that the welfare of their members remained their priority.
He said: “This is not a political gathering.
“Though we are coming from different political parties, our purpose is to add our voices to the development of the country and the third tier of government.”
Onochukwu said their loyalty remained with their principal, adding that the association was not formed to fight but rather to help pursue an independent local government administration.
“Our relationships with our bosses still remained cordial, our loyalty to them is unshaken,” he said.
He said members whose states refused to conduct local government election would not be admitted to its fold, adding that it would never allow those who were not democratically elected to infiltrate their ranks.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the association will hold its first maiden programme titled: “Prospect and challenges of local government in Nigeria,” on December 18 in Abuja.
NAN also reports that other Vice Chairmen present were Ahmad Salisu, Fage Local Government, Kano State; and Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Ikorodu Local Government, Lagos State.
Others were Christopher Isu, Etiope East, Delta State; and Ezenwa Chukwudi, Oji River Local Government, Enugu State, among others.