The National Association of Local Government Employees has called for a complete overhaul of the country’s constitution in favour of the local governments.
The NULGE President in Ogun State, Ayuba Olatunde, stated this at a press briefing to mark the association’s week, which is billed to hold between Tuesday and Sunday.
Olatunde said challenges of decay in healthcare, educational system, poor sanitation, insecurity and other challenges facing the country could be tackled through local government autonomy.
While calling for a law to be enacted on the status of local governments in the country, Olatunde alleged that state governments had been taking advantage of the loopholes in the constitution to undermine the local government councils.
He, therefore, called on the National Assembly and the state Houses of Assembly to expedite action on the recent debate to grant local government autonomy.
He also charged state governments to respect and adhere strictly to the constitutional provisions on local governments pending the granting of autonomy.
Olatunde stated, “We want a complete overhaul of the constitution in favour of the local governments and to that extent the independence of local governments in the country.”
“The negative effects of this lack of autonomy translate to vices, including but not limited to decay in health care and educational systems, poor sanitation, poverty and rural and urban migration with its attendant consequences.”
“The overall effects of all these is what we are experiencing in the country today: reduction in life expectancy; insecurity ranging from banditry to kidnapping; killings; food shortage; economic decadence and unemployment.
“The National Assembly should expedite action on the recent debate to grant local government autonomy and transmission of same to state Houses of Assembly for their two-third assent.”
