Workers belonging to the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State branch, have staged a demonstration against what they believe to be an attempt by legislators to vote against the autonomy of local governments.
The protesting staff who locked down the state House of Assembly building on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital, issued a warning that they will skip the election in 2023 if the legislators do not vote in favour of autonomy.
The workers stated that they would not permit the lawmakers access to the Assembly complex until the lawmakers guaranteed them that they would vote in favour of the bill. The workers were led by their State President, Comrade Bola Taiwo, who made the announcement.
They also threatened that they will put a halt to the state's social, economic, and political operations unless the state gives in to their demand.
On the banners that the workers displayed, some of the statements that were written on them included "Yes to LG autonomy," "Yes to judicial autonomy," "No autonomy, No vote," and "On autonomy we stand."
According to statements made by Comrade Bola, Ondo State ought to be one of the final governments in the country to ratify the bill creating the local government autonomy commission, given that 16 states across the country have already done so.
The national vice president of NULGE, Abimbola Babalola, emphasised the need for an autonomous local government system and urged the state's legislators to take the necessary action by voting in favour of the bill.
Babalola's comments were part of NULGE's annual meeting, which was held in Lagos.