Mr Mohammed Ibrahim-Alkali, Nasarawa Assembly lawmaker has called for effective collaboration between chairmen of local government, labour unions and other stakeholders for the development of rural communities.
Ibrahim -Alkali, representing Lafia North Constituency, made the call while playing host to official of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from Lafia Local Government Area on Wednesday in Lafia.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, also urged the NULGE officials to support the chairmen in order to tackle challenges facing local governments and development areas in the state.
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“I want to commend you for initiating this visit and to assure you of my full support for the autonomy of local government, state legislature, and judiciary in the state.
“Nasarawa Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi is local government-friendly that is why we will continue to legislate and pass resolutions that will promote good governance and strengthen democracy at the grassroots.
“To strengthen democracy at the grassroots, Mr Speaker has already assured NULGE officials from North Central states when they visited the House that Nasarawa Assembly will do what you want.
“I want to assure you that when the National Assembly sends the bill to the House, we will give full support and vote in favour of local government autonomy.
“But you must be prepared to receive local government autonomy by ensuring that you tackle absenteeism, truancy, and lateness to duties among local government staff in the state.
“You must also join hands with chairmen and overseers of development areas to bring positive changes to the system.
“We must sanitise the system for the benefit of grassroots development and for the overall development of the state,” he said.
He assured the NULGE officials of quality representation at the state house of assembly.
The lawmaker also commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for prioritising the welfare of local government staff among other workers in the state.
Earlier, Mr Obaba Luka-Obenu, Chairman, NULGE, Lafia LG said that the visit was to solicit the support of the lawmaker in the area of local government autonomy, financial autonomy of the state legislature, and state Judiciary among other demands.
“We are here to appeal to you to support the autonomy of the local government council.
“Our demands include passage of local government financial autonomy, administrative autonomy in order to ensure rapid grassroots development,” he said.
The NULGE chairman assured Ibrahim-Alkali of their readiness to support him to succeed.(NAN)
