The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was agog as the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) marked the 2nd edition of her week with the theme: ” Making Local Government works for Nigeria people”.
The two-day event which started on Wednesday, November 6th, was declared opened by the Honourable Minister of state, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Hon. Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, at old parade ground which was the venue of the opening ceremony.
Highlights of the colourful ceremony were the excellent parade displayed by the various states’ chapter of the union and the presentation of award plaques to the awardees which was tagged: “friends of NULGE”.
Top rank hotel, the venue of the second part of the event was filled with the participants, awardees and other special guests for the event.
Speaking with newsmen at the ceremony, the national president of NULGE, Comrade Ambali Hakeem noted that the guest speaker at the event actually captured the struggle of the union by using a foremost Nigeria novel titled “My strength shall not fail”.
Comrade Hakeem said: “the Nigeria local government had been seen as ‘Ikemefuna’ the resurrection of us affirmed by the supreme court judgement of the july 11th ruling in favour of the local government due to the courage and wisdom of president Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“The top government officials are the ‘okonkwo’ who attempted to sacrifice ‘Ikemefuna’.
Comrade Hakeem commended Mr president for taking the bull by the horn to ensure the autonomy of local government in Nigeria came to reality.
He recalled that the local government was one time autonomous during the military regime before it was hijacked, adding that local government as an arm of the government had been disallowed to function due to the funds accrue to it.
Comrade Hakeem stressed on the union’s continuous struggle to allow the local government staff to practice all the skills and knowledge they all have acquired.
“we are closer to the people. we know all the terrain, there are no infrastructural development in those areas. We have been denied our funds . Our demands are not better salaries wage but for better Nigeria. He said .