The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has ended its nationwide advocacy campaigns aimed at creating awareness and rallying support for the local government autonomy bill.
The campaign ended with a rally held in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.
Local Government workers drawn from the six states of Nigeria’s North East region converged on the popular trade fair complex here in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State.
National President of NULGE, Comrade Khaleel, delivering his address to kickoff the rally, urged members to be orderly during the procession.
Barrister Johnson Nerus who presented a paper on local government autonomy, said for the nation to witness meaningful progress at the grassroots, local governments must be financially independent.
The National President and his officers, after the lecture embarked on a long walk to the Taraba State House of Assembly.
They marched through Hamanruwa road, Barde way and Buba Jodda way, displaying placards with various inscriptions as they sang solidarity songs to press home their demands.
At the Taraba State House of Assembly where they were received by the Speaker, Hon. Peter Abel Diah, the NULGE president presented their demands to the lawmakers, asking for their support for the local government autonomy bill.
In his response, the Speaker expressed gladness about the visit, stressing the need for certain important issues to be addressed in form of constitutional reform. He also called for a functional local government system.
He noted that some lawmakers in the National Assembly who once kicked against local government autonomy in their various states have turned around to become advocates of the bill.
NULGE is keen to continue lobbying state houses of assembly for the passage of the bill.
It remains confident that soon the battle for autonomy would be won.
