The Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi, says state Assemblies in the South-East have resolved to support local government, legislative and judiciary autonomy.
Ubosi disclosed this on Wednesday during the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), South-East Zonal Rally in Enugu.
The speaker, who addressed the rally attended by affiliates of the NLC, said that there was no better time to grant autonomy to the local councils, legislature and judiciary than now.
He said that the ongoing alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) had provided the window to achieve that.
“I am aware of this business because the Conference of Speakers has been struggling for it for a long time. We have already agreed on what to do about these issues.
“We do not need to consult any governor because this is democracy,” he said.
Ubosi said that almost 80 per cent of serving governors was on their way out, adding that it would not make sense for any of them to block the autonomy of the local councils and others.
“So, it is better to push for it at this time. For us in the South-East, we will pass the various autonomy provisions once they are transmitted to us,” Ubosi said.
Earlier, the Chairman, NLC, Enugu State Council, Mr Virginus Nwobodo, said that labour was at the assembly complex to solicit the support of the legislators on the ongoing alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Nwobodo said that Nigerian workers were in full support of local government autonomy, judiciary autonomy and legislative autonomy.
“The three tiers of government have to be truly independent for better services to Nigerians.
“All elected officers in the various arms of government must begin to take responsibility of their actions and inactions.
“We want you to support this move so that no arm of government will override the other,” he said.
Nwobodo appealed to Ubosi to reach out to his brother-speakers in the South-East for a seamless passage of the autonomy alterations when they receive them from the National Assembly.
Also, the National Vice President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), South-East Zone, Mr Patrick Igwe, said that previous efforts to alter those constitutional provisions failed.
Igwe said that the time had come for power to be given to the people.
“That is what we are asking as this will enable us to deliver more. We do not want any state Assembly to block these alterations,” Igwe said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally was attended by members of NULGE, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria from the five states in the zone.
