Politics

LG Autonomy Antidote To Insecurity, Unemployment, Say NULGE National President

Published

4 years ago

November 24, 2021

Editor

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE, Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji has described the neglect and usurpation of the roles of local government by those he described as state political actors as major factor contributing to increase in the rate of poverty, unemployment and crimes.

Comrade Olatunji who spoke in Ado Ekiti during an exclusive interview with Roundoffnews after declaring open a youth conference, affirmed that the way out of the aforementioned challenges is for government to grant total financial independence to the third tier of government.

According to him, if the local government is allowed to operate in line with the dictate of the laws, some of the major challenges which has crippled the progress of the country will have been tackled.

His words: “No reasonable person will be satisfied with the current state of our local government system today, we have all witnessed systematic destruction of the local government system by state political actors.

“Unfortunately, the local government is supposed to be the hope of Nigerians because it is the most relevant, strategic and accessible tier of government but reverse is the case.

“Around 1979 -1984, we had a semi local government autonomy and that was when the council operated properly and recorded some great feats such as electrification of rural areas, opening of rural roads, provision of potable water. It also organized vocational programme for youths and women, and it was at that time that we had a formidable and effective security system.

“The most popular tier of government is the local government but it has been destroyed through conspiracy by political leaders who because of greed and selfishness cornered local government allocation and also used the instrument of state laws to seize local government IGR.

“The collection of some dues are sole responsibility of local government as highlighted in the Constitution but state government through the use of house of assembly highjacked this roles.”

According to him, the setting up of signage, land use charges, collection of fees from parks and tenement rates were sole responsibility of the local government which are means of generating IGR to support Federal Allocation which would now be used to cater for the needs of people at the grassroots but such system had be upturned.

“This is why you now have youth restiveness because no state government can provide jobs to all the youths, in the past we had instances where local government were empowering youths and women and giving out bursaries to students but that has become a mirage as the state actors now highjacked local government allocations and misapplied them,” he added.

Speaking on the youth conference, Comrade Akeem Olatunji said it was an initiative to prepare youths in the local government system for future leadership task and to also give them orientation on how best to cross the hurdles of unionism.

“We believe in our Union and if we must have a vibrant Union and future it is time to build the capacity of our youths and sharpen their skills.”

Comrade Olatunji showered encomium of the NULGE president in Ekiti, Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde for the great achievements he had recorded in office, urging him to sustain the tempo.

Politics

JUST IN: Former APC National Youth Leader Dumps Party

Published

33 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Sadiq Abubakar, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader has announced his decision to dump the ruling party.

Abubakar who disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday, explained that his decision was unconnected with the hardship faced by many Nigerian homes due to difficult policies and programmes by the APC.

According to him, the move was also driven by an objective of securing free and fair victory in future election primaries so as to continue to serve the people with strength and integrity.

He stated that his decision followed a series of consultations with family, friends, political associates and stakeholders saying this was after a careful reflection on recent developments within the party structure and internal arrangements.

“It is high time to adopt a party with a more clear vision and the compassion to help the common man.

“The APC processes are not working, the party is not just and fair. I’m leaving the party because there is no fairness in the electoral processes of the party as well as the consensus.

“And I know that they are not going to be fair in the forthcoming primaries but they will only use the power of incumbency.

“Also, what the party is doing to every family is becoming something else as it’s becoming too hard to put a three square meal on the table,” he said.

The Former APC National Youth Leader however, affirmed that he would soon reveal the new political party of his destination in no distant time.

Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”