By Laraba Murey
Local Government workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, have identified All Progressive Congress, APC, governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Simon Lalong of Plateau State as those campaigning against Local Government Autonomy.
This was made known at a press conference which was held at Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja recently, by the National President of the Union Comrade Ahmed Ambali, where they vowed to vote against those working against Local Government Autonomy.
Ambali noted that “NULGE in collaboration with NLC have directed all our members across the country to be on the look out. We will not support any party that moves against local government autonomy. We have directed them to keep their Permanent Voters Card and vote out all the anti people leaders who are hell bent on destroying the local government”.
He said “We want to draw the attention of Nigerians to the clandestine and anti-people move by Governor Kayode of Ekiti State, who since three days ago, have been in Abuja mobilising various States Assembly Speakers, coercing them, intimidating them and inducing them to vote against local government autonomy.
“One will wonder why Governor Fayemi who will be exiting office in less than 50 days is so desperate to ensure the continuity of destruction of this country as a nation.
“We have a security report that Governor Fayemi had a nocturnal meeting with Speakers of State Assembly again for the third time, two days ago. Whereby, he directed that those that have not passed the Local Autonomy Bill should discontinue in discussion and debate while those that have passed it should also look for a way to withdraw it. We don’t understand why Fayemi is desperate. Maybe, he is afraid of how he mismanaged local government funds.
“As of today, Fayemi owes local government workers over seven months salary.
“We have also been notified that an anti people committee has been inaugurated under the leadership of Governor Kayode Fayemi and to be led by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong who doubles as the Director-General, APC Presidential Campaign Council to work so rapturously against local government autonomy in Nigeria.
“We want to warn Governor Lalong to be careful of his role presently. Let him not send a wrong signal that will be deemed as anti people, and that they don’t like Nigeria.
“As of today everyone in Nigeria is clamouring for a functional, autonomous and service driven local government system. This cannot continue. Currently, most of our villages have been deserted because of lack of basic amenities.”
The Secretary of NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, noted that Nigerian workers will not hesitate to use its might, which is their Voters Card to show her rejection of any party or its agents that opposes local government autonomy in the forthcoming general elections.
The NULGE President, commended the States House of Assembly lawmakers that choose to stand by the Nigerian people who also realized the need to stem the tide of destruction that is currently being witnessed in Nigeria, in the area of insecurity, poverty, joblessness and lack of infrastructure and also a positive attempt to stem the title of rural urban drift.
The states that have passed the bill includes, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Osun, Edo, Delta, Kogi and Katsina while Ekiti and Lagos states voted against the bill.
