BEVERLY HILLS, March 15, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has lampooned state Houses of Assembly in the Southeast zone over their indifference in passing the Local Government Autonomy Bill.
It noted that while other states like Kwara, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River, Bayelsa and Ogun states have voted for Local Government autonomy, the states in the Southeast are yet to conduct public hearing.
Addressing newsmen at the NULGE Secretariat in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the National Auditor of the Union, Comrade Ayuba Shamdung Jepla, revealed that four states in the Southeast zone were just preparing to conduct public hearing on the bill.
He accused the lawmakers of being insensitive to the plight of the people at the grassroots, who he described as the direct beneficiaries of the Local Government Autonomous Bill.
Jepla also dismissed the earlier reason given by the Imo State House of Assembly for none passage of the bill, stating that “the defense was a mockery of the well-intended aim and objectives of the National Assembly with regards to Local Government Autonomous Bill”.
According to him, “the Union unequivocally condemns the none passage of the Local Government Autonomous Bill by the Imo State House of Assembly as it is not only retrogressive, undemocratic but a calculated plan to enthrone abject poverty and misery in the third tier of government.
The Union also knocked the Imo State Assembly for voting against the Bill, describing the decision by the lawmakers as unfortunate.
NULGE also lampooned the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha for not “equally putting his best to ensure the passage of the Bill” but appreciated the States that voted in favour of the bill, describing them as “partners in progress”.
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