Imo Assembly under fire for rejecting LG autonomy bill

The Imo State House of Assembly has come under severe criticism from the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and other stakeholders for voting against the Local Government Autonomy Bill.

NULGE particularly lampooned the lawmakers for rejecting the Autonomy Bill after assuring the union that they were going to support the bill.

Nine states including Niger, Benue, Kwara, Ogun, Bayelsa, Cross River, Bauchi and Bornu have so far voted in support of the bill, while Imo and Edo voted against.

In a statement signed by the secretary, Jamilu Mustapha, the Union, accused the legislators of betraying the trust and confidence reposed in them by their constituents by standing against the the Autonomy Bill.

According to the statement, “it is most unfortunate that the Imo state House of Assembly decided to unknowingly or unknowingly to sell their birthrights. They have decided to remove the ladder through which they climbed up which is very shameful. It is unbelievable to hear that the Imo State House of Assembly rejected the historical bill for full autonomy for Local Government Councils”.

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It continued further that, “this singular act will continue to retard the development of Local Government Councils and majority of our people who are are the grassroots will continue to suffer”.

The statement also added that, “the leadership of the Union was disappointed by the action considering the advocacy visit it paid to the House on the matter and the assurance given by the Honourable members that they will go with the aspiration of the people that voted them into their coveted seats”.

The Union however called on the legislators to recant their earlier stand and vote in support of the Autonomy Bill, adding that, “we are calling on the legislators to rekindle the trust the people bestowed on them by revisiting the bill and vote Yes for full political, financial and administrative autonomy for Local Government Councils songs to gladden the heart of Imo state people and Local Government workers in the state”.

It warned that, “in the event that the Honourable members fail to do the expectations of the people that voted them into their exalted positions, they should be rest assured that 2019 elections are fast approaching and they have to account for their stewardship as representatives of their constituencies”.

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