Date: 2017-04-14

The Conference of Speakers in Nigeria says granting of autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils in the Country will go a long way in strengthening the nation's democracy and make it more meaningful to average Nigerians .

To this end, it has resolved to actualise this when it is the turn of State Legislature to play its part in the on going Constitution amendment.

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly , Dr. Ali Ahmad gave this indication in Ilorin, while addressing leadership and members of the National Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE) in the North Central zone who were on a peaceful rally to the State House of Assembly.

Represented by the House Leader, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, Dr. Ahmad explained that granting of autonomy to the third tier of government in the nation's constitution would further reinforce the doctrine of checks and balances and spread of dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the Country.

Dr Ahmad who disclosed that the 8th Legislature under his watch had been people- oriented in its legislative activities, since its inception in June 2015, assured that he was dedicated to ensuring that at least two thirds of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria vote in favour of the autonomy in the nation's constitution amendment.

Earlier, the National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khalid said the Union embarked on the rally in all the six geo- political zones of the country to sensitise states' legislature on the need to support autonomy for Local Government Councils in the on going amendment of the 1999 constitution to permanently address issues impeding effective local government administration in the country.

Comrade Khalid, whose position document was delivered by the Deputy National President, South West, Comrade Famola Oluwadare equally, among other things, called for the abolition of Joint Account Allocation Committee, scrapping of States Independent Electoral Commissions and payment of percentage of salaries to local government workers to engender effective local government administration in the Country.

Adebayo Abdullahi

I.T Officer, Office of the Speaker,

KWHA,

Ilorin, Kwara State.