Members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ebonyi State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Abakaliki demanding the full implementation of the local government financial autonomy in the state.
The protesters drawn from the 13 LGAs in the state numbering about 300 marched from the state NULGE office along Vanco axis of the Old Ogoja Road to the State House of Assembly with members carrying placards and banners expressing the need for the government to respond to their demand.
Some of the placards read: “No LG Autonomy, No Election, “Implementation of LG Financial Autonomy Long Over Due, LG Financial Autonomy Will Better Our Lots,” “We Are Tired Of Working While Politicians Chop,” among others.
However, there was a mild drama between the protesters and the Ebubeagu Security Network who attempted to disrupt the peaceful protest and disperse them but for the quick intervention of some government officials who brought the matter under control at the Government House, Abakaliki and the protest continued.
Addressing journalists shortly after the protest, the state NULGE president, Mr Stanley Awa maintained that the peaceful protest was a national Programme aimed at drawing the attention of governments, especially the State House of Assembly to enact and enforce the full implementation of financial autonomy for local governments across the country.
“We as NULGE are a law abiding union. We don’t fight governments, but we support every government in power to achieve success. We are calling for autonomy so that things will be better at the local government level.
Comrade Awe said that with the full implementation of the local government autonomy, workers will be better taken care of and development will reach the grassroots faster.
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