Ahead of the forthcoming local government elections fixed for October 5, thew Akwa Ibom State branch of the Nigria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against full financial autonomy to the 31 local councils.
Speaking in Uyo after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries leading to the emergence of the 31 chairmanship and 368 councillorship candidates for the polls, the NLC chairman, Comrade Sunny James, though congratulated them for the feat, expressed doubt on their competence to handle leadership at the third tier.
He noted that the strategic nature of grassroots governance imposes heavy responsibility on leaders, pointing out that the new set of chairmen could be ill-prepared for the big task, thereby giving room for failure of governance structure at the council level in the state.
Comrade James, therefore, made a case for central administration of funds for effective payment of salaries, gratuities, pensions and other entitlements to the LG workers.
He said: “The impacts LGs at the grassroots and community development need not be overemphasised. LG elections are more than just a democratic exercise; it determines the leadership that will directly influence communication development, infrastructure, education, health services and local economic policies.
“NLC, therefore, viewed this tier of government as too important a system to be left in the hands of incompetent and greedy people who do not have the interest of the masses at heart. We celebrate the PDP for conducting peaceful primaries and encourage other political parties to follow suit.
“Importantly, we wish to implore the chairmen that will emerge after the elections to ensure prompt payment of salaries, gratuities, pensions centrally and other workers’ entitlements as is currently done in the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) and Local Government Pension Board (LGPB).
“Also, monies should be set aside on a monthly basis for the clearing of indebtedness using existing structures. Never again shall our workers suffer indebtedness for supporting the autonomy.
“Congress position is referencing the partial autonomy of 2009 – 2014 granted the LGAs which exited with so much debt which the present governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is graciously resolving.”
