By: Felix Ikpotor
As the 2023 elections approaches, local government workers in Rivers State have promised to give bloc votes to members of the State House of Assembly if they pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill into law in the state.
Amb. Clifford Paul, State President of NULGE in a statement urged the Rivers assembly members to emulate their counterparts in other states who have passed the bill into law.
NULGE Rivers State further commended the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for not interfering with allocations of local government councils in the state.
“As you are aware, NULGE has for over two decades waged a relentless struggle, organizing several state, zonal and national rallies for an autonomous Local Government system in Nigeria. This struggle culminated in the passage of the bill twice by the two chambers of the National Assembly. Sadly, twice the passage of this bill to satisfy the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended has been stalled at the State Houses of Assembly”.
“The Rivers State operates a quasi Local Government autonomy in that, the state Government does not interfere with Local Government allocation. We therefore commend His Excellency, Barr. Gov Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – CON, Executive Governor of Rivers State for not interfering with Local Government funds,” he said.
Paul charged the lawmakers to show patriotism by passing the bill into law.
“What is required is the patriotic zeal and the political will on the part of the Rivers State House of Assembly to join their counterparts in other states who have passed the bill. NULGE commends the Governors and members of State Houses of Assembly of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Delta, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Ogun, Osun, Kogi and Katsina States for demonstration of patriotism in the passage of the bill and urges other State Houses of Assembly to do the needful”.
“NULGE is convinced that an autonomous Local Government system in Nigeria is the panacea to the hydra-headed challenges plaguing the country, manifesting themselves in insecurity, unemployment, poverty, violent agitations for dismemberment of Nigeria, banditry, kidnapping, rural urban drift, clamour for restructuring, infrastructural decay, youth restiveness, political violence, economic crimes, etc.
“Finally, we reiterate our call on the Honourable members to rise to this patriotic occasion as men of history and pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill”.
He assured that: “NULGE will mobilize her members and their families in the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State to support in 2023 election of the Honourable members as they pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill”.
