Bayelsa State Local Government Workers Call for Passage of Local Government Autonomy Bill
About 500 local government workers in Bayelsa State marched to the state House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday to protest the non-passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill.
The workers blocked the entrance to the Assembly gates, demanding to speak with principal officers of the House, who then suspended their session in order to address the protesting LG workers.
The Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, told the workers that the bill was already receiving the attention of the lawmakers.
“The bill is already before us and we are going to look into it, but the way we conduct our business in the House is based on deliberations, debates and then we put issues to vote.
“I urge you to be patient and I assure you that we shall not delay the bill. However, we must ensure that due process is followed so that whatever we do will stand the test of time.”
The Chairman of the Bayelsa chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Akpos Ekiegha, after the Speaker’s address said the workers would await the outcome of the bill from the Assembly.
According to him, the passage of the bill would allow financial autonomy of the local government and enhance rapid development at the grassroots.
