The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) is seeking a total financial autonomy from both the federal and state governments, and has called on the Public Service International (PSI) to assist local governments in Nigeria to achieve this.

National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, sought the intervention of the PSI when the PSI Minicipal Officer, Mr. Rolv Hassen, visited Nigeria in continuation of his tour of some African countries.

Comrade Khaleel told the PSI officer that NULGE was facing a lot of challenges in the country, most especially in the area of local government autonomy, finances and its democratic institution.

He said the focus of the present leadership was represented by the struggle it had been involved in the past five years, adding that the challenges on how to strengthened the local government and make it independent was also there.

The NULGE President called for the review of the 1999 Constitution to give local government workers freedom to operate and ensure democratic representation at the local government level.

“We are canvassing for the support of all Nigerians and international institutions, especially the PSI to collaborate with NULGE to ensure we have viable local governments in Nigeria,” Comrade Khaleel said.

He kicked against the state and local government joint account, which according to him has affected the development at the local government level and canvassed that the joint account should be expunged from the constitution.

The NULGE President stated that individual budgetary allocation should be given to each local government in the country, adding that NULGE had given its positions on all these issues in a position paper, well documented and presented to the National Assembly.

“We are looking forward to your good office to assist our union in these areas,” he told the PSI officer.

Mr Hassen assured NULGE of PSI support and declared that it would be very hard to have democracy and development if the people at the local government were unable to decide on whom to govern them.

He said: “We are really committed to developing quality public service by communicating and working together. We can strengthen the public service and make public service available for us.”