THE Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Wednesday condemned the bad working conditions of workers, particularly those caused by the removal of fuel subsidies, and demanded immediate response from governments at all levels.
Furthermore, the Union claimed that local government areas around the country can only offer their all to the people if they had financial autonomy, which it claimed was lacking.
Comrade Ambali Olatunji, National President of NULGE, announced this at the 2nd NULGE National Youth Conference, 2023, held in Benin City, Edo State.
He said “governments must be serious and stop playing politics with workers’ lives. The retinue of aides at the federal level is unnecessary.
“We have technocrats in the system who can also pilot the scheme very well, the government must address the issue of wages to workers immediately. Wages of workers should be increased to between 30% to 35% to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
“If the government is serious about bringing development to the people, they should ensure granting financial autonomy to local governments, so that we would be able to activate the various departments to bring good governance to the people. Giving people money is not the best way, teach them and give them the right skills and empower them.
“We believe that there is an infrastructural gap in the local governments, government needs to provide some equipment like tractors, graders and heavy machines to open up rural roads and allow people to engage in agriculture because Nigeria must get it right. If we don’t fix the local government, we can never fix Nigeria,” he stressed.
Regarding the effects of removal of fuel subsidies, he suggested that the government should offer discounted rates to car owners who switch from gasoline (PMS) to compressed natural gas (CNG).
Chief Tom Uloko, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission in Edo State, who was speaking on behalf of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, emphasized that Obaseki wants local governments to earn their own revenue since doing so would facilitate rapid growth.