National President of NULGE, Akeem Olatunji Ambali,(middle) addressing Journalists after NEC meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday 29th July.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig the security leadership and overhaul the country’s monetary policy management team.
The call was part of resolutions taken at the National Executive Committee meeting of the Union held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on Friday, 29th July.
NULGE condemned the recent threat on President Muhammadu Buhari, and Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai by an unknown gunmen, saying that the unitary system of policing the country was ineffective, advocated state and community policing.
“NEC condemned the threat by unknown gunmen to kidnap the President, Muhammadu Buhari and Governor of Kaduna state. We call on the President to rejig the security architecture and make sure that security is guranteed for average Nigerian throughout the country.”
“We also support the call for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force. As at today, we have realised that the unitary system of policing Nigeria is no longer effective. What we are saying is that community policing should be approved without any further delay. We should raise, train and empower vigilantes and local security groups, so that Nigerians will be able to live without threat, intimidation and insecurity.”
The Union in a communique presented by the National President, Akeem Olatunji Ambali, frowned at the continuous fall of the Naira against major currencies, saying that CBN’s inability to reverse the situation was worrisome and called on President Buhari to overhaul the monetory policy management team and a appoint new one.
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“We also received with alarm the continuous free-fall of the Naira. What is the role and the intervention of Central Bank of Nigeria? It seems those managing Nigeria’s monetary policy have lost touch with modern day economic management. We call on Mr President to change all of them and put in new ones. The sufferings they have made Nigerians to pass through must no longer continue. There is poverty in the land.”
NULGE called on the federal government to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to enable students return to school.
The Union lauded Abia, Kogi, Katsina, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Anambra State Houses of Assembly for voting for local government autonomy, calling on her members to mobilise, campaign for and vote for lawmakers who voted for the autonomy.
“On local government autonomy, NEC commended Abia, Kogi, Katsina, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Anamnra states who have voted for local government autonomy. We also condemn the leadership of Lagos State House of Assembly who voted against the bill. We see this as counter productive and unprogressive. We appeal to other State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria to approve the passage of local government autonomy. Poverty and hardship experienced in Nigeria can be mitigated with the presence of functional and vibrant local government administration.”
“On PVC, NULGE called on all her members to explore the remaining opportunity to register and collect their PVC. Your vote is your power. We must come out and vote for a better Nigeria. Let us use the power of PVCs to send home and retire those politicians that are anti-people. We therefore call on our members in Abia, Kogi, Katsina, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Anamnra to canvass, pray and vote for the government and House of Assembly members who voted inline with Nigerians and support local government autonomy, and vote out those who voted against autonomy.”
Meanwhile, the Union has called on the presidential candidates of the APC, PDP, NNPP and Labour Party to come out clear with their stand on local government autonomy.
