NULGE Slams Seyi Makinde, other Governors for Opposing LG Autonomy
By Olusola Ilori
The National President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Akeem Olatunji Ambali has slammed the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde over his opposition to Local Government autonomy being canvassed by the union.
Olatunji Ambali, while reacting to Governor Seyi Makinde’s Speech, at the First Quarterly General Meeting of the Conference of State Legislatures in Nigeria, held at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, criticized Seyi Makinde for saying “granting Local Government autonomy should be stepped down until after the 2023 general elections”
Ambali then, called on all Nigerians not to vote for him and other State governors who are campaigning underneath to the State legislatures not to grant the Local Government autonomy.
He affirmed that, only the Governors that are benefitting from corrupt system of diverting local government funds, that do not desire a change.
The NULGE National President, therefore called on Governor Seyi Makinde and others to retrace their steps by joining hands with NULGE in its quest to have a better Nigeria. “We have our facts and figures from Federal allocation for each Local Government, especially in Oyo State” Ambali added.
“Seyi Makinde should stop his fallacy and should not influence other Governors who are willing to support the agitation for autonomy negatively” Ambali warned.
The NULGE National President, also appreciated the Conference of the State legislatures and expressed the Union’s gratitude for the audience and recognition granted the union to present the plights of its members on Local Government Autonomy.
He recounted the numerous benefits of autonomy under the military regime as including the provision of social amenities and other succour for rural dwellers under their domain.
He further stated that, the roles of the Local Government such as; collection of motor park levies, grading of roads, amongst others, have been hijacked by State governments, thereby lowering the standard of local government performances, stressing that, Constitution has spelt out the recognition of Local Government as the third tier of Government.
Ambali thereafter, passionately appealed to the distinguished members of the State legislatures in Nigeria to use the Conference to do Justice on the clamour for local government Autonomy, by righting the wrongs of the past and save Nigerians from Oppressors.
He stated that, Local Government is a mirror that reflects humanity. “If we have functional Local Government, there will be strong connections between the government and the people at the grassroots and there will be less burden” Ambali concluded.