The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) wants the federal government to declare a state of emergency on Local Government Councils in Nigeria. This was part of the resolutions reached on Thursday after its regular National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
In a thirteen-point communiqué issued after the meeting, the Union stated that it extensively discussed the issues bothering the welfare of its members, the state of the nation, as well as the economic policies of the government.
The communiqué lamented what it called the overbearing posture of the State governors on Local Government, which it said has left it “prostrate” in Nigeria.
“A State of Emergency should be declared on Local Government Administration to stipulate the revival of the infrastructural decay, poverty and state of unemployment across the Local Government in Nigeria.
“Government should as a matter of urgency create a special intervention fund to take care of aforementioned social welfare
and infrastructural decay through the Ministry of Special Duty to directly fund the project and programmes in conjunction with
Local Government.
“Federal Government should establish a special agency(ies) to administer the special fund for the development and the transformation of the rural areas in conjunction with the Local Government”, it said.
The union also called on the Nigerian Government to make deliberate and quick interventions to address the hardship citizens across the board are facing since the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration.
According to NULGE, one of the ways to achieve this is to effect a three hundred per cent rise in the national minimum wage for all workers in the country.
“That considering the hardship brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy on Local Government Staff, it is the position of NULGE that there should be a 300% rise in the minimum wage for all Local Government workers and other public servants including private sector workers.
“Similarly, the Union demands a special Rural allowance to Local Government Staff among provisions of basic infrastructures to encourage them for serving the rural areas and to also discourage rural-urban migration.
“The Union commends the Edo and Imo State Governments for blazing the trail for increasing Workers’ salaries from N 30,000 to N40,000. We call on other States to emulate this humane gesture while work is being concluded on the 300% rise in the national minimum wage”.
According to the meeting, to encourage rural dwellers, agricultural products and amenities should be provided at a subsidized rate to make them affordable.
Regarding the state of insecurity, which has affected food production in the country, the communiqué appealed that the Local Government should be funded to establish a special vigilante to protect farmers, enabling them to go about their legitimate farming activities without fear of attack.
“The Union acknowledges the effort of the government to cushion the effect of the economic policies on citizens. It however suggests/advises that government should utilize the 800mUSD World Bank loan to provide mass transit and intervention in the auto-mobile spare parts companies to discourage importation, alternate energy provision (C.N.G.), vocational skill acquisition centres for youth and women.
“The Union wish to advise that government should declare tax rebate/holiday for low-income earners and small-scale entrepreneurs as a way of encouragement to sustain their businesses.
“The Union observed and condemn a situation that whenever there is a crisis of any sort in any part of the country, the Local Government Secretariat is a regular target for attack as recently witnessed in Plateau, Anambra, Abia and Enugu States.
“The Union call on the government to urgently re-open the 17 Local Governments in Plateau State which was shut down as a result of a politically motivated crisis so that the Councils can resume their administrative functions”, it said.
Other resolutions reached by the Union at the end of its meeting include the call on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Council for Establishment to establish a Council of the Joint Negotiating Council to comprise/accommodate NULGE, NUT, and NASU, who are major unions in the public sector.
It also called on the Secretary to the Federal Government to expedite action and prioritize approval for the scheme of service for Local Government.
“It is the conviction of the Union that Local Government Autonomy remains the best way to return the country to the path of development and growth, as this will translate to the direct funding of Local Government without which no genuine national development can be achieved.
While recommending the establishment of Local Government Police or Community Police to address the spate of insecurity across the country, the Union commended President Tinubu for his declaration of Local Government as the bedrock of national development that needed urgent attention.
The communiqué was signed by the National President of the Union, Ambali Akeem Olatunji, and General Secretary Isah Gambo.
