Local govt workers disrupt Bayelsa Assembly sitting, demand autonomy

Hundreds of ​local government ​workers under the auspices of Nigeria Union of L​ocal Government Employees, NULGE, in Bayelsa ​State, ​have besieged the premises of Bayelsa House of Assembly to demand expedited passage of local government autonomy bill.

More than 500​ ​council workers, Wednesday, blocked the entrance to the Bayelsa House of Assembly gates and demanded an audience with principal officers of the house.

The development compelled members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly to suspend their session to address the protesting workers.

Addressing the workers, Kombowei Benson, the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, said the bill was already receiving the attention​.
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“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​,” he said.​

“I urge you to be patient and I do assure you that we shall not delay the bill but we must ensure that due process is followed so that whatever we do will stand the test of time,” Mr. Benson said.

Speaking to the workers, Akpos Ekiegha, the Bayelsa Chairman of NULGE​,​ said that as a law abiding union, the workers would await the outcome of the bill from the assembly.

He said the workers took the steps to add their voices to the clamour for local government autonomy in the state.

“He said that financial autonomy of the third tier of government would ensure rapid development at the grassroots.

“The protest led to heavy traffic buildup in the Amarata area of Yenagoa​,​ forcing motorists to divert to other routes to get to their destinations within the state capital.

The Bayelsa Police Command sent four patrol vans with some 20 armed policemen to fortify security at the assembly.