Journalists task FG on direct allocation to local governments

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isizugo has urged the Federal Government to totally implement the direct allocation of money meant for local governments to the local councils.

Speaking with DAILY POST shortly after the burial of the former Chairman of NUJ, Cross River State Council, Ndoma Akpet in Okoni in Ikom local government area of Cross River, the President regretted the attitude of State Governors who hold onto local government funds.

He said “Let Federal Government implement it to the fullest, it will encourage competition at that level of governance. It will encourage development such that when we hold local government Chairmen for poor performance, they will not refer us to State Governors which they always accused of tampering with their finances.

“You can agree with me that the local government is the third tier of government in this country as provided in our constitution and over the years, governors have been tampering with the finances of the local government and that has stunt development at that level of governance.

“Now that Federal Government is acting wisely by making sure that the money of the third tier of government goes to them directly, that is a step in the right direction, we applaud federal government.

On the N30,000 minimum wage, the NUJ National President said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) where we are an affiliate have taken a position, we will make sure that the State Governors implement it.

“Already, most State Governor during the workers’ day have declared their readiness to pay and I want to call on the State Governors that are still prevaricating, still tinkering with the idea, to immediately commence the implementation of the new National Minimum wage, what is N30,000 to start with that they can’t pay, if they don’t, the NLC will know how to make them pay,” he stated.

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