By Bola Bamigbola
As state parliamentarians under the aegis of South West Legislative Reform Implementation Committee (SLRIC), converged on Osogbo, Osun state capital for maiden meeting, State leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Wednesday, demanded financial autonomy for local governments in the country.
This is just as the Speaker, Osun state House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, suggested what it called ‘interdependence between the Executive and Legislative arms of Government’ for effective service delivery.
The Osun NULGE President, Adeyeye Jacob, said the meeting provided the lawmakers, ample opportunity to etch their names permanently on the sand of time by restoring absolute financial independence the third arm of government enjoyed in the early days of the fourth republic.
He urged the lawmakers to support autonomy for local government in the interest of peace and good government, stressing that council areas with financial autonomy would guarantee speedy development in rural areas across the country.
“Only local government autonomy can guarantee sustainability of the current democratic experiment, it is only it that can embolden the masses to nip soldiers that may attempt to act contrary to the constitution.
“Our union is resolute in this matter and will continue to monitor those who may attempt to frustrate this patriotic move,” Adeyeye concluded.
In his welcome address, Osun Assembly Speaker, Hon. Salam, decried over pampering of appointed officials, especially those working with governors, whom he said often constitute hindrance to timely service delivery.
He then charged the forum to smoothen all rough edges slowing down governance, noting that, if unity of purpose is achieved by the forum, it would enhance regional integration being planned by governors in the South West region.
All South West states, except Lagos sent representatives to the meeting.
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