The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal government against politicizing local government autonomy, stressing that the recent judicial ruling on the matter must be respected and implemented without delay.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected National Administrative Council (NAC) members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero stressed that local government autonomy has become a matter of law, and not political discretion.
Months after the Supreme Court’s ruling, granting full financial autonomy to the local government areas, its implementation has faced delays with allocations from the federation account yet to be paid directly to the LGAs.
However, addressing NULGE members in Abuja, Ajaero cautioned against any attempt to further delay or manipulate the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling, asserting that it is not a favour granted by the government, but a legal mandate that must be upheld.
In his inaugural address, the newly elected President-General of NULGE, Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to advocating for full local government autonomy and improving the welfare of local government workers nationwide.
