The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned a proposed Local Government bill, describing it as an attempt to divert council funds.
In a letter to the Speaker of the State House, reference number NLC/ABSC/AHA/VOL.11/001, dated October 25, 2024, and signed by state chairman Ogbonnaya Okoro and Secretary Emma Alozie, the NLC expressed serious concerns.
The letter highlighted that the bill includes provisions for allocating 90% of Local Government funds to the State Government, leaving just 10% for Local Government operations.
The NLC stated, “We are writing to you about the proposed obnoxious bill that has provision for seeding 90% of the Local Government Allocation to the State Government Allocation, leaving only a paltry 10% for the running of the Local Government Areas.”
Calling the bill a “dangerous encroachment” on Local Government autonomy, the NLC stressed its belief that the bill is “in utter disregard of the Supreme Court judgment on July 11, 2024, granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.”
The NLC further described the bill as “anti-people and anti-development.”
In a plea to the House, the NLC stated, “We urge you and the entire House to reject the bill from further consideration.
The bill, if passed, will adversely impact the Local Government’s right to its freedom and development of rural areas while violating the principles underpinning the Supreme Court judgment.”
The NLC requested that the Speaker “reject the obnoxious anti-people and anti-development bill in its entirety, publicly announce the rejection of the bill by the House, and support the Supreme Court judgment that granted Local Government autonomy.”
Warning of consequences, the NLC vowed that “workers in the state would resist all attempts by ensuring that the bill does not see the light of the day,” adding, “Should the House continue with the process of considering the bill, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees cannot guarantee industrial peace in the Local Governments and should therefore not be held responsible for any breakdown of industrial peace in that sector.”
The NLC revealed that it has directed Labour leaders across the 17 Local Government Areas to mobilize and sensitize members if the House proceeds with the bill’s consideration.
“We have instructed Labour Leaders in the LGAs to begin immediate mobilization and sensitization of our members across the 17 Local Government areas, if the House proceeds with consideration of the bill,” the NLC affirmed.
The NLC urged the House to focus on policies that would benefit workers’ welfare and foster rural development, warning against “embarking on an obnoxious bill detrimental to the poor masses in the interest of peace and development.”
