The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) is seeking partnership with the Federal Government on the successfully implementation of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) guidelines which aimed at checking the overbearing control of governors on the finances of the local government.
President of NULGE , Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel told reporters on Monday that the union with her 774 network is willing to support government to ensure local governments as the third of governments return to her lost glory.
“Our Union and the entire leadership and membership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government employees (NULGE) across the 774 Local Government in the Federation fully welcome the action of the Federal Government in coming up with these measures, which we are convinced will put a substantial halt to the hemorrhage of local government finances Which has over the years been flagrantly abused by state governors and there collaborators.
“As a union, we will work with the relevant agencies of the Federal government to ensure the successful implementation of the guidelines. We will train our members across the length and breadth of the country to keep an eagle eye on the operations of the Funds going to local government councils henceforth, to ensure that the abuse which has been perpetuated in the post is stopped for good”.
Comrade Khaleel further commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sanctioning the NFIU guidelines, adding that “this has renew our faith in the anti corruption fight of the present administration”.
The union leader while urging Nigerians to also renewed support for the Buhari fight against corruption, assured that “as a nation we can move forward and use the resources for the growth and development of our people”.
On the administration of the local councils, Comrade Khaleel challenge political parties to push only credible and capable candidates to run for political office in Local government, so that they can deploy their talent to run functional and credible government at the grassroots level.
“Going forward, we call on all political parties to put forward credible and capable Nigerians to run for political office in our local government system so that they can deploy their talents to run functional and credible government at the grassroots level In our history as a nation, this has happened before. We believe with the appropriate Change in the mindset of our political elite. This can be rekindled, and our local government system will once again be an agency for local and grassroots development”
The NFIU guideline says that the state Local Government Joint Account is only a collection account for funds to be shared directly to Local Government Councils within a state, That no withdrawal can henceforth be done from a state Local Government Joint Account unless and until that withdrawal is going into a particular Local Government Account, Provision of streamlined accounts for local governments and Provision of a ceiling of N500.000 daily cash withdrawal for all local governments across the country. All other withdrawals must be by cheque or electronic transfers”.