Release LG funds directly – NLC begs Nigerian govt

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that local government allocations are paid directly.

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This is as it also urged the government and Governors not to play politics with the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment directing local governments to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for direct allocations.

President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the call at the 8th National Administrative Council meeting of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Abuja on Sunday.

Ajaero pledged the Congress’ support in ensuring NULGE’s fight for full autonomy was achieved.

“We have got autonomy now. I want to plead with the federal government not to play politics with the autonomy we have gotten. The release of funds to local governments should not be at the whims and caprices of the government.

“It’s a position of law. It is not if you like me, you send me money. If you don’t like me, you won’t send me money. I think we should get that.

“The very moment the judicial arm of government, the highest court in the land, gave that ruling, they are not doing anybody any favour any longer. And even the president agrees with it.

“So I don’t understand their sense of delays any longer. So the NLC, NULGE and all trade union movements in Nigeria will work with all of you to make sure that we fight any infraction at any unit, be it council, be it state. Our struggle has been highlighted in such a way that it will not be a way of telling them to obey the law,”; he said.

Ajaero, who commended past leaders of NULGE for efficiently piloting the affairs of the union and for maintaining a smooth process of democracy and transition, advised the new leadership to follow the precedents already set by others.