NULGE condemns non-conduct of LG polls.

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

The National Union of Local Government Employees on Tuesday in Benin, Edo State, condemned the prevalence of caretaker committees in many of the country’s 774 local governments.

NULGE members, at a sensitisation campaign organised by the union, also condemned the delay in  implementating a resolution by the Edo State House of Assembly, dissolving caretaker committees in the 18 local governments in the state.

The councils in the state have since October 2010 been run by caretaker committees.

NULGE’s National President, Ibrahim Khaleel, who was represented by his deputy (South-South), Lucky Ewah, said the nation’s local governments had become personal estates of some governors, who he accused of installing family members and cronies to head them.

He said, “We call on Edo State Governor to comply with the resolution of the State House of Assembly on the dissolution of the councils. There is no reason using caretaker committees. He should comply so that workers in the councils can prepare the ground for local government elections.”

The union also called for the scrapping of state independent electoral commissions, saying it has lost confidence in their ability to conduct credible polls.

As an alternative, the union said elections into the councils should be left for the Independent National Electoral Commission.