The Organised Labour, which includes the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, has called on the Federal Government to avoid handing over workers’ salaries directly to local governments.
This plea comes after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments, allowing them to receive funds directly.
Labour leaders have suggested several measures to ensure the smooth operation of local governments under this new system. One of their key proposals is to carry out an audit to verify the actual number of local government workers, primary school teachers, and pensioners across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
In a statement, the President of NUT, Titus Amba, NULGE President-General, Ambali Akeem, and NUP President, Godwin Abumisi, said, “For a smooth start of the direct payment system, there should be staff redistribution, placement, and auditing to find out the real numbers of local government workers, teachers, and pensioners.”
They also proposed a one-year freeze on hiring new local government staff and teachers to ensure stability and allow local governments to focus on development projects. “Recruitment of new staff into local government and teaching should be suspended for one year from the date of the Supreme Court judgment. This will help local governments concentrate on developmental projects and service delivery,” the Labour leaders added.
Another suggestion was to restructure the bodies that supervise local government workers, making them more inclusive by adding representatives from local government chairmen, labour unions, and other stakeholders. Labour also called for the Federal Government to help local governments procure essential machinery like tractors and refuse disposal vans, with the cost deducted from local government allocations over time.
Regarding workers’ welfare, the Labour leaders said that local government workers’ and teachers’ salaries should be directly managed by the Local Government Service Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), respectively. Additionally, 25% of workers’ salaries should be set aside for pensions and gratuities, and 5% of funds should be allocated to traditional councils.
Labour further proposed strengthening the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs to oversee policies and reforms for local governments, ensuring proper coordination and productivity.
