People caling for scrapping of local government councils are enemies of Nigerians, democracy — NULGE President

By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says those calling for scrapping of local government councils in the country are enemies of Nigerians and democracy.

The National President of NULGE, Mr Ambali Olatunji, told newsmen in Enugu on Saturday that those behind the plot are insensitive to the plights and governance needs of the majority of Nigerians at the rural areas.

Olatunji spoke against the backdrop of a bill before the House of Representatives seeking to abolish the third tier of government.

The bill is being sponsored by a House of Representatives member, Mr Bob Solomon, PDP from Rivers State.

Olatunji noted that the NULGE members were planning to occupy the country homes of all Federal lawmakers over the plan to scrap the local government system.

He warned that the sponsor of the bill and other lawmakers, who show support to it, would face the wrath of the entire Nigeria workers soon.

The NULGE President said if the bill was not killed immediately, the workers would in the next few days stage a protest at the National Assembly, after which they would storm the country homes of all members of the parliament.

“Our existence is being threatened; we will not sit down and watch. There will be a national protest there at the National Assembly.

“They are no longer representing us, they are representing themselves. Bob Emmanuel, who benefited from the local government system, has now become so disillusioned that he wants the system scrapped.

“He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that is why we have asked the party to call their son to order.

“Any person who attempts to kill the local government system is killing his own political future.

“No lawmaker who is on the side of masses should join this destructive move. We shall fight them all,” he said.

The NULGE boss urged governors, who believed in the local government and have conducted elections in them, to speak out against this plan to destabilise a system that draws government closer to the people.