Kogi Assembly Did Not Reject LG Autonomy – Speaker

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Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly has reiterated its determination and commitment to do what would make the people at the grassroots happy, stressing that the sixth Assembly under his watch has not rejected the Local Government Autonomy bill as been peddled by some people on various media.
Disclosing this while addressing the National Leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) led by its National President, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel yesterday at the Assembly complex in Lokoja, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole said since they are the representatives of the people at the local level, they would have no point not to pass the autonomy that has become a national issue, stressing that the delay was as a result of the petition filed by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) distancing their union from the proposed autonomy due to their experiences before SUBEB was introduced.
According to him, being true representatives of the people, they have no option than to refer the alteration bill to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to organise public hearing that will create opportunity for relevant stakeholders who are either in support or against to submit memorandum which would be consider critically by the house.
Kolawole added that the process of amending the 1999 Constitution as amended is a continuum, hence the assembly would continue to carry out its constitutional responsibility of attending to issues as it being demanded, urging them to be rest assured that the sixth assembly under his watch will do the needful that will enhance the third tire of government in the state.
He said they would have no choice than to do what will make the people happy since virtually all members of the assembly are product of the grassroots that derived their votes from the people.
Speaking earlier, the National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel commended the leadership of the sixth assembly for their humility and pro-activeness to give them a warm reception which is rare to find across the country.
According to him, the union is on an advocacy visit to the state to draw the attention of members to see reasons for them to pass the much needed Local Government Autonomy that has now become a national issue.
He noted that the passing of the bill will go a long way to assist the people at the grassroots to feel the impact of governance, pointing out that the chaotic situations in the country is owed to the fact that the local government system is not working.
He appealed to the members to help the people and the system to grow, as the freedom of the Local Government system is freedom for all, noting that the NUT cannot hide under the guise of their past experience and work against the passage of bill.

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