The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded total autonomy for the judiciary, local governments and State Houses of Assemblies.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba stated this on Friday during a protest at the venue of a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The NGF meeting with the 36 states House of Assemblies speakers was to brainstorm on finding urgent solutions to issues of national importance.
Mr Wabba, however, explained that the current status quo was hampering the development of the country.
He said Governors should grant autonomy to other tiers of government in line with the recent amendments to the constitution.
“We are aware that they are meeting to look at other issues. But we have three demands. Those demands are one, autonomy for the local governments. Two, autonomy for the judiciary. Three, autonomy for our State House of Assemblies. That’s the reason we are here.
“If it is not on their agenda, they must put it on their agenda. And it must pass through.
“We are tired of going in cycles. The underdevelopment in Nigeria today can be traced to the fact that the local government system is not working. The funds of the local government are not being given to them. We are aware that the funds for the local government is now pocket money for the boys. We are aware that there is no credible elections in the local government system. And therefore the issue of joint accounts, we don’t want that to happen again.
“The members of the National Assembly have done their bit. All those issues have been contained in the proposed constitutional amendment. We are also aware that those bills, as passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, have been transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly. And therefore we want them to do the needful.”
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