Yakubu Busari
The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and members representing Wase Federal Constituency Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Maje has disclosed that democracy thrives on diligent views, noting that allowing minority opinion triumph without being challenged by opinion of majority accords value such minority views.
A statement by Aminchi K Joshua State Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Plateau State Chapter, stated that the Deputy Speaker said this while playing host to the leadership of the Union at his residence in Jos during the Easter break.
The statement stated that Hon. Maje while responding to the solicitation on him by the Union for support and advocacy on colleagues towards the discontinuation of proceedings on the bill seeking the delisting of local Governments, Removal of Minimum wage from the Exclusive to the Concurrent List and the granting of Local Government Autonomy during the forthcoming Constitution amendment, noted that the National Assembly’s doors were open to all opinions, pointing out that the popularity of the position of those favorably disposed to the delisting of local Governments and movement of the minimum wage are entitled to their views and if left unchallenged by voices against it will give it impetus and smooth sailing.
The Federal lawmaker tasked the union leadership to galvanize support from all its members across the nation towards making its voice and opinion hard on its position about these contending issues and appreciated the Union for realizing the place of lobbying in a democratic setting and assured them of the National Assembly’s readiness of deliberating and passing bills that are people oriented and has potential of invoking national growth and development.
Regarding the Constitution amendment and the demand for Local Government Autonomy, the House of Representatives number two man noted that as chairman of the house Constitution amendment committee, work has begun in earnest preparatory towards the exercise calling on the labour organization to ensure it does its own part of the bargain of creating needed awareness needed in reciprocating support.
The Deputy Speaker further charged the union leadership on the need to be faithful and steadfast in its sworn mandate of causing improvement to the welfare of members, stressing the price of leadership is always bearing the pains and burdens of followers which requires patience, tolerance and understanding as virtues.
He also appealed to the leadership to close ranks with government towards the peaceful and amicable resolution of issues.
The statement further stated that earlier, State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Yohanna Arondong Makwin while stating its mission, commiserated with the Deputy Speaker, over the sudden demise of the member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency in the National Assembly Hon. Haruna Maitala who died recently in a ghastly motor accident.
Arondong eulogized the sterling disposition of the Deputy Speaker who apart from the positive impact on the lives of his constituents through various empowerment programs, has also sponsored very significant bills which included the bill for the establishment of Federal Medical Centre Wase and bill for the amendment of the Orthopedic Hospital Management Board to provide for the establishment of Orthopedic Hospital Jos among other valuable contributions on the floor of the hallowed chamber.
The NULGE President stated that the visit on the Deputy Speaker became imperative in view of the critical nature of the two anti people bills which are against productivity, growth and development stressing that local government, being integral component of states and playing host to a larger percentage of the nation’s population, the granting of Local Government autonomy was therefore a significant yardstick for the achievement of its statutory mandate and not bills that will further impoverished the grass roots and add pain to the already sorry condition of local government workers.
