Ondo: Local Government Workers Sealed Assembly Over Council Autonomy

By Ayodele Oni

Agitation over autonomy for local governments in Nigeria took another dimension in Ondo state on Tuesday, as council workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) locked up the state House of Assembly Complex.

Lawmakers in the state were billed to debate the issue, but there are reports that the state government had reached out to them not to pass the bill.

President Mohammadu Buhari had last week accused state governors of tampering with local governments funds, but Governor Akeredolu was quick to respond that there was nothing like that in Ondo.

Workers and members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State branch led by the state President, Comrade Bola Taiwo protested to the assembly complex over mounted pressure on the Ondo lawmakers to vote against the Local Government Autonomy in the new constitution being reviewed by the National Assembly.

The protesting workers, who shutdown the state House of Assembly complex  in Akure, however, vowed that “No autonomy, no election in Ondo state in the forthcoming general election.

The National Vice President, NULGE, Abimbola Babalola, said system of the local government must be autonomous and urged the lawmakers in the state to do the needful by passing the autonomy bill into law.

The lawmakers, sending trouble did not report at the assembly complex despite that they were billed to sit by 1.00 pm.

Only two out of 26 lawmakers were seen at the Assembly complex as others stayed away from the plenary