NUPENG CALLS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

NUPENG CALLS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) calls on the federal government to give autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country so that they can operate fully without any hindrance.

The Union believes that granting local governments’ autonomy will go a long way to ensure proper accountability and promote rapid infrastructural development. It added that the autonomy will make the local government Chairmen and Councilors more responsive and acceptable to the people at the grass-roots level.

The Union condemns in its entirety the action of Governors who remove duly elected local government Chairmen and Councilors at will and that granting them autonomy will put a stop to it.

NUPENG also states that the autonomy will make sure that direct allocation from the Federation Account are paid directly to them putting a stoppage to the hijack by Governors. The Union adds that such direct allocations to the local government Chairmen and Councilors will ensure prompt payment of salaries and allowances to workers as at when due.

The Union appeals to the Federal Government to urgently revisit the issue and grant local government full autonomy so that grass-root development will be guaranteed.

Comrade (Dr.) Igwe Achese

National President