The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Nanger local government area of Yobe State has begun protests demanding for local government autonomy in the country.
Our correspondent who visited the venue of the protest reports that members gathered at the entrance of the local government secretariat with banners and placards bearing different inscriptions.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the protest, the NULGE chairman, Comrade Umar Inusa, said the protest has become necessary because the only language the government understands was that protest.
“We are demanding scrapping of the joint account committee and saying no to illegal deductions from local governments’ allocations, adherence to fourth schedule on local government in respect of revenue sources, among others things,” he said.
According to him, autonomy would result in massive food production in local communities.
“All of us could recall that the issue of autonomy and independence for these three arms of government to operate independently has been an issue in Nigeria. And that has led to a lot of challenges. I can say as a matter of fact that because the local government system is not working, that is why the security architecture of Nigeria today has collapsed.
“Autonomy of local governments will guarantee full security of our communities; will stimulate the economy of communities.
“Adopting autonomy for local governments will be in the interest of promoting democracy. It will strengthen democracy at the grassroots level, abolish JAAC and credit local government funds directly from the federal account.
“That is why we have taken it as a major campaign to every nook and cranny that every politician – chairman of a local government, members of the state assembly – must endorse this bill on the autonomy of the local governments”
He urged the federal government to allow INEC to conduct local government elections in the 774 local governments across the country saying it would “provide employment opportunities for our youths and assistants.”
