TELL Magazine

The National President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ambali Olatunji on Wednesday took a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, while he lives an extravagant life. The NULGE helmsman also pooh-poohed the economic policy of the Tinubu administration, dismissing it as “dodgy and ill-defined” and hurting the masses.

Speaking in Benin City, Edo State, during the opening ceremony of the union’s two-day National Youth Conference, and the formal commissioning of the Edo State NULGE House, Olatunji upbraided the president for running an over-bloated cabinet whereas he should be cutting down cost of governance. Miffed that a president who claimed to understand the sufferings of the people would embark on anti-people policies without regard to the cost of governance, contended that 45 ministers and a horde of aides are a huge burden on a fragile economy. 

Condemning the removal of fuel subsidy without a mitigation plan, Olatunji posited that the dodgy and ill-defined economic policy of the administration is hurting the poor and vulnerable most, and advised President Tinubu to retrace his steps before he plunges the whole country into an economic mess. 

According to the NULGE president, “We should be talking of cutting down on the cost of governance at a time like this, rather than doing things that exacerbate the already bad situation. About 26 ministers and a few aides would have sufficed considering what the country is currently undergoing.

“The president also hurriedly removed fuel subsidy without putting in place measures to cushion the effect, and that is why we are at this abysmal level. Hopefully, he will retrace his steps and the country can move in the right direction. You cannot say Nigerians should adjust their standard of living while you live an extravagant life. Nigerians are going through harrowing experiences. People are frustrated, but we should not lose hope”.

While urging the federal and state governments to grant financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria, Olatunji thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for creating an enabling environment for Edo State workers to thrive. 

The Edo State chairman of NULGE, Lazarus Adorolo, said the conference was to prepare the workers ahead of retirement. Adorolo noted that the skills learned during the conference would be of immense help to them post-retirement.