Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday, stated his
support for the autonomy of local government councils across the federation,
saying that this would engender development.
Fayose also pardoned the Deputy President of the Nigerian
Union of Local Government Employees in Ekiti State, Mr. O.B. Olatunde, who had
been recommended for dismissal from service for alleged misconduct against the
governor over salary issues.
He said the dismissal recommended by a committee set up by
the Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka, to try the local
government official would be commuted to suspension.
Fayose gave the indication after meeting with NULGE’s
reconciliatory delegation led by its National President, Ibrahim Khaleel, in
Ado Ekiti, which came to appeal to him.
While briefing the delegation, Fayose said, “There should be
a government the people at the grassroots can refer to as their own. When you
cede the local government to the people, then nobody could blame a governor for
the inefficiency at that level.
“I want to appeal to my colleagues to give total autonomy to
all the 774 LGs in this country.”
Fayose said he decided to shift ground on the punishment
meted out to Olatunde because of the swift way Khaleel handled the matter.
“Unionism is not
always about confrontation, but about respect and reconciliation. I want to
commend the NULGE delegation for this show of solidarity and I want to tell you
that rather than dismissal, the government will look for alternative punishment
just to serve as punishment,” he said.
Khaleel, who described Fayose as the voice of the voiceless,
commended him for speaking for the masses.
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