The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has said that the proposed Native Authorities invoice is an try and siphon council funds within the state.
In a letter to the Speaker, reference quantity NLC/ABSC/AHA/VOL.11/001, dated twenty fifth October, 2024 and signed by the state chairman of NLC, Ogbonnaya Okoro, and the Secretary, Emma Alozie, NLC said that it was “writing to you in regards to the preposed obnoxious invoice that has provision for seeding 90% of the Native Authorities Allocation to the State Authorities Allocation, leaving solely a paltry 10% for the operating of the Native Authorities Areas”.
The Abia NLC expressed its imagine that “the invoice is a harmful encroachment upon freedom of the Native Governmeri Authority, ulter disregard to the Supreme Court docket Judgment on 11′” July, 2024 granting monetary autonomy to the Native Governments in Nigeria, anti-people and anti-development.
“We urge you and your complete Home to reject the invoice from additional consideration. The invoice, if handed, will adversely affect Native Authorities’s proper to its freedom, and growth of the agricultural areas, whereas violating the rules underpinning the Supreme Court docket Judgment”.
The NLC described the Speaker as “a vibrant younger man that has an extended future in Nigeria politics”, and suggested, “could we subsequently attraction that you don’t let the Governor mislead you. He has immunity which you do not need. The judgment prescribes jail phrases for whosoever that can circumvent the judgment. The selection is yours. Accordinaly, we strongly urge you, within the curiosity of ethical decency and in retaining vith your oath of workplace, to decide on the trail of transparency reasonably than corruption, regardless of financial inducement”.
NLC subsequently urged the Speaker to “reject the obnoxious anti-people and anti-development invoice in its entirety, announce publicly the rejection of the invoice by the home, and help the Supreme Court docket Judgment that granted the Native Authorities Autonomy”.
NLC warned that the employees within the state “would resist all makes an attempt by making certain that the invoice doesn’t see the sunshine of the day”, warning, “Ought to the Home proceed with the method of contemplating the invoice, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Native Authorities Workers can’t assure you industrial peace within the Native Governments and may subsequently not be held answerable for any breakdown of business peace in that sector.
“We have now instructed Labour Leaders within the LGAs to start fast mobilization and sensitization of our members throughout the 17 Native Authorities areas, if the Home proceeds with consideration of the invoice”, Labour stated.
NLC suggested the Home to focus on insurance policies that might have constructive impacts on employees welfare, rural areas growth reasonably than embarking on obnoxious invoice that might be detrimental to the poor plenty within the curiosity of peace and growth.”