Local Government workers in Nigeria say they are poised to ensuring that the local government system returns to its pride of place as the level of governance that touches the direct needs of the grass root.
The resolution resonated in Abuja on Wednesday during the inauguration of the newly elected executive of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NLUGE.
The swearing in of the new executive is coming six months after the demise of its former President Ibrahim Khaleel who died in October last year.
The Legislature in Nigeria has therefore been urged not to heed the move by some people calling for the abolition of the local government system in the country.
The new President of NULGE, Comrade Ambali Olatunji while taking the oath of office in Abuja on Wednesday also called on the Parliamentarians and other stakeholders to see local governments as a catalyst for societal development and give it full autonomy in line with the aspiration of the founding fathers of Nigeria.
He said that the issue of Local Government Autonomy would remain top on the agenda of the union for the next four years of his administration as President of NULGE.
“We shall pursue vigorously from where our late leader stopped on the issue of Local Government Autonomy and also ensure the successful passage of the Local Government Scheme of Service”, he said.
In October 2020, the sudden death of the then National President Ibrahim Khaleel, forced the Union to elect another President to fill in the vacuum and also see to a smooth transition of electing new officials for the union.
New executives
Six months later, the assignment was concluded with the election of new executives to man the affairs of the union for the next four years.
So it is not out of place that the new National President is keeping the candle on that the struggle to achieve local government autonomy is an agitation that must continue with his administration.
Noting that he cannot do it alone, he called on his colleagues especially those who lost elections to join hands with him to move the union to the next level.
“NULGE has weathered many storms to arrive at this threshold, we are resolute and never relenting in actualizing the dreams of our founding fathers and keeping to the fundamental principles, therefore I call on you all to join us.
“Comrades, this leadership shall offer an open door system that is all inclusive.
“We shall pursue genuine and meaningful reconciliation to see that sustainable peace returns to the Union. This is germane to bringing all litigations to a halt,” the President said.
Check off dues
Reeling out his plans for the union, Comrade Olatunji said that gone is the time when trade unions relay solely on check off dues to run unions, saying that leaders must think out of the box in finding ways to ensuring the betterment of their members.
“In line with modern practices of trade unionism, unions no longer depend on check off dues system alone, hence this government shall take a bold step in Investments diversification which shall broaden the economic and financial base of our Union.
“Comrades, as much as we applaud and continue to applaud the National leadership of our Union for everything it has achieved in the past years, we never must stop striving for a better, fairer and inclusive union; we have no choice but to insist that this union stands tall among committees of Trade Unions”.
The President also called for what he termed as unprecedented collaboration among trade unions, governments, corporate and international organisations as well as members of staff towards ensuring that the Union attains the desired peak.
Immediate past National President of the Union, Ahmed Labbo, urged the new national officers to be dutiful in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by making sure the objectives of the Union are realized in the quest to “protect the current comatose position of local government system into 3 tier of government that will provide efficient service delivery and to bring smiles to our teaming members through improved welfare programmes and enhancement of their career prospects.”
In his own words, “l have confidence on the new team led by the National President elect, Comrade Akeem Amball Olatunjl in your capacity to harness abundant potentials of the Union through evolvement of programmes that will uplift the status of the Union and make it relevant to the needs of our teaming members.
He adds that it can be achieved through working closely and making concerted efforts to Involve broad spectrum of members and officials to chart a new course to enhance sustainable development.
Lateefah Ibrahim
