Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reassured the newly elected local government chairmen of his continuous support in ensuring rapid socio-economic development at the grassroots.
Makinde, represented by Mr Bayo Titilola-Sodo, his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, said this on Tuesday during the 7th Quadrennial State Delegate Conference of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, held at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
The governor said that his administration had since inception, ensured that workers welfare was his number one priority, adding that the local government must be salvaged as the closest government to the people
He enjoined the entire NULGE members to cooperate with the newly elected president and other executive members for the betterment of the union.
In his speech, the National President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Mr Akeem Olatunji, urged Nigerians to support the actualisation of autonomy for the Local Government System in the country.
Olatunji called on patriotic Nigerians to strongly support the agitation for local government autonomy for the grassroots to enjoy real dividends of democracy.
He said “We are having a lot of challenges such as youth unemployment, neglect of rural development and so many problems because the foundation has been destroyed,”
According to him, there is a need to understand that without a vibrant and autonomous local government system, Nigeria will not get it right.
He said that the leadership of the union had declared Wednesday, Sept. 1, as a day of national fasting and prayer for the actualisation of local government autonomy.