The Organized Labour, represented by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), has proposed a nationwide staff redistribution, placement, and auditing exercise. This initiative aims to determine the actual number of local government employees, primary school teachers, and pensioners across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
Under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of local government-based unions, the group also recommended a one-year embargo on new recruitments, including teachers, following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on direct payment for local governments. This move, they suggest, will help stabilize local government operations and promote effective service delivery.
In their seven-point recommendations, union leaders such as NUT President Titus Amba, NULGE President-General Ambali Akeem, and NUP President Godwin Abumisi, emphasized the need for staff auditing to support the smooth implementation of direct financial remittances to local governments. They also called for the restructuring of supervisory institutions to enhance quality control and inclusivity at the local level.
JAC further advocated for federal government intervention to address infrastructure deficits and service delivery capacity in local governments. Among other measures, they proposed restructuring the Local Government Service Commission, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Local Government Staff Pension Board, to include representatives from relevant unions and stakeholders.
For workers’ welfare, JAC recommended that salaries and training grants be directly managed by respective agencies, and outlined a plan for pension and gratuity payments. They also proposed reforms in the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs to ensure policy formulation, coordination, and supervision of local government affairs.
These recommendations are part of JAC’s broader agenda to ensure local governments can focus on developmental projects and deliver efficient services to communities across the nation.
