The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, emphasized that the release of funds to local governments should be conducted directly and not be subject to political considerations.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected National Administrative Council (NAC) members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Abuja, Ajaero underscored the necessity of adhering to the judicial directive without delay.
He stated, “We have got autonomy now. I want to plead with the federal government not to play politics with the autonomy we have gotten.
The release of funds to local governments should not be at the whims and caprices of the government.”
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, had affirmed the financial independence of the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.
Despite this ruling, implementation has faced delays.
This has led to a three-month moratorium on the implementation of the law, with direct payments to LGAs expected to commence in October.
Ajaero criticized these delays, asserting that compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision is not optional.
He remarked, “The very moment the judicial arm of government, the highest court in the land, gave that ruling, they are not doing anybody any favour any longer.
And even the president agrees with it. So I don’t understand their sense of delays any longer.”
The NLC president pledged the Congress’s support in ensuring that NULGE’s fight for full autonomy is realized.
He emphasized that the struggle has shifted from agitation to enforcement of the law.
