The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in has declared that the recent Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local government areas will address over 50% of Nigeria’s issues.
Ambali Olatunji, the National President of NULGE, shared this optimism during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Olatunji’s comments follow the landmark Supreme Court decision that upheld the Attorney General of the Federation’s lawsuit seeking to provide full autonomy and direct funding to all 774 local governments in the country. The court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governors to control funds meant for local government administrations.
Expressing joy at the ruling, Olatunji described it as a “new dawn for the country,” emphasizing that this judgment marks the end of a 15-year struggle for local government autonomy. “We believe that with the local government autonomy judgment, over 50 per cent of Nigerian problems have been fixed,” he said.
Olatunji highlighted the anticipated benefits of the ruling, including increased financial integrity at the local government level, enhanced security, reduced joblessness, and narrowed infrastructural gaps. He stated, “We will be working with anti-corruption agencies to ensure growth and development.”
The union leader also acknowledged the support of various partners in achieving this milestone. “We appreciate the media, our social partners, especially the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for their resilience and support,” Olatunji added.
The Supreme Court’s decision is seen as a major step towards decentralizing power and ensuring that local governments have the financial independence necessary for effective governance and development.
