Don’t give our salaries to LGs, unions tell FG

Local council unions have urged the Federal Government to make workers’ salaries a first-line charge on the Federation account and pay directly to statutory bodies, including the Local Government Service Commission.

The request seems a departure from the Supreme Court judgment giving financial autonomy to local governments.

In a memorandum to the Federal Government last week, the unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee of Local Government-based Unions, made up of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, said the call became necessary for industrial stability of the local council system.

“For workers’ welfare and industrial harmony, training and capacity building and sustainability of industrial stability in the local government system, payment of the gross salary of local government workers should be made a first-line charge and domiciled in the relevant agencies,” the unions said in the memorandum signed by Titus Amba, NUT President; Ambali Akeem; NULGE President; and Godwin Abumisi, NUP president.

On 11 July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for governors to hold funds allocated to the LGs, saying the councils should determine how to maintain and utilise their funds.

However, despite the general sentiments in favour of the apex court judgment, there are concerns about the capacity of the local councils to discharge the responsibilities bestowed on them efficiently.

The unions amplified this fear in their memorandum last week, urging the Federal Government to pay their salaries, training and pension funds to the Local Government Service Commission.
They said the gross salary of primary school teachers and 1.5 per cent of the total council allocation for running the State Universal Basic Education Board should be domiciled with the Board.