NULGE to resist abrogation of LGs in constitution

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees said it would resist any attempt to abrogate the local government as the third tier of government in Nigeria.
The National President of the union, Malam Ibrahim Khaleel, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Khaleel said the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government at the National Conference had recommended that the 774 local governments should be removed and transferred to the states.
Khaleel said that instead of tampering with the local administration structure, the committee should consider the contributions of the system to the development of the grassroots in Nigeria.
He said that authority of the councils should not be given to state executives to determine the number of councils in their states as such powers would be abused.
The NULGE president said what the committee should be talking about was the autonomy of the local government and not how to remove it completely from the system.
He said: “The recommendation of the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Power to expunge local government system from the 1999 Constitution cannot stand
“We have decided at the National Executive Council meeting of the union that we would resist these plans that are against the people.
“The issue of local government autonomy is what we should be talking here as it has been concluded by the people of Nigeria and decisions have been taken.
“It is a unanimous decision and l don’t think the conference can change the decision of the people.
“We are already engaging the people in order to ensure that the decision does not go through to the plenary.”
Khaleel also condemned the approach of its umbrella bodies, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, in challenging the decision of the committee.
He said both labour centres seemed not to be bothered and proactive in challenging the decision of the committee to make council authorities mere administrative units under the state governments.
He said: “There is a need for the two labour centres to remain focused and look into the need of the Nigerian people particularly.
“This issue of relegating local governments to an appendage in administrative units under the states should not be accepted by the labour movement in Nigeria because it’s anti-people.
“Its an exclusive policy that will exclude Nigerians from participating in the democratic activities of our nation.
“So it should be at the front burner of the struggle of the labour movement.
“We in this NEC have observed with dismay the attitude, particularly of our labour centre, the NLC, towards the issue of local government autonomy.
“We are not too happy with the way and manner they are handling the issue.”
Khaleel also expressed dismay over the same committee’s recommendation that labour matters be removed from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List.
He said the development would also affect the council administrations negatively.
Khaleel said the National Conference was an elitist congregation and did not care about the feeling of the people.
According to him, only six local government delegates are attending the conference out of the 774 council areas.