NULGE condemns senate’s rejection of LGs’ autonomy in News BY ENYIM ENYIM ONITSHA—Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Wednesday, condemned rejection of direct funding to local governments by the Senate. NULGE’s reaction came as it has started mobilising for the recall of some senators who voted against the direct funding. President of the union in Anambra State, Mr. Jerry Nnubia, dropped the hint while speaking with Vanguard. The Senate Constitution Review Committee in its report, had recommended direct funding for local governments but the Senate voted against it. Nnubia, who described the development as sad and unhealthy for the local government system in the country, said the Senate decision was not only fraught with selfishness but also undemocratic. He said: “There is no doubt that what the senate did was based on selfish interest. Some of the senators want to be governors in their respective states and they want to hijack local government funds as many past and present governors had been doing. “The people that elected them to the senate had demanded for financial autonomy of local government. So, why should they thwart that democratic wish of the people that gave them the mandate. In any case, we as a union is mobilising for their recall because they are representing themselves and not the people.” Nnubia siad the demand for financial autonomy for local government was to ensure that development was fast tracked in the rural and urban areas of the country. However, he appealed to the House of Representatives to do the right thing by giving autonomy to local government when they deliberate on the matter On the council election scheduled for October 5 in Anambra State, Nnubia expressed fears that it might not be feasible because the governorship election was coming within the same period. “It will cause a lot of confusion it will heat the polity but at the save time, want to local government election to be held,” he added.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:32:21 +0000
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