Representing NULGE(Corliss Azikiwe

Corliss Azikiwe, is the NULGE chairman Ika North East Local Government Area. The body that represents the interests of Local Government employees.His growth in the Labour Movement and style of leadership was brought to our attention and we decided to search him out. 

Labourlog had the chance to speak with him on the state Local Government Administration in Nigeria and his stewardship to the NULGE. Along with the Auditor to NULGE, they gave our team details on how they have steered the affairs of the Association.

Q How has it been managing the NULGE ?

The staff and members are made up of persons, and the greatest challenge is managing persons. But we have been able to achieve about 88% understanding to our ability and the response from our members. We have been successful.

Q How is the relationship among the Exco? 

It has been a very cordial one, through not without issues, we are largely united including the departmental representatives. We are all working to a common goal 

The Auditor lent his words too, “The activities

of NULGE has to do with staff welfare and with the leadership, we are putting a lot of effort to work and meet the staff welfare need which is our primary objective.

Q.Relationship with Local Government management ?

This union has met with two states of transition in government. When we came on board, the HPM was acting as the Chairman and the relationship was excellent. We had an advantage because the HPM, Barrister Felix was also a member of NULGE. So, he was a number of the Union and also a member of management. We had a smooth relationship with him and what we wanted was passed except the circumstance was beyond him.

We then moved to the headship of Hon Mrs. Ijeoma Okunonke and it was great as well as she was a unionist in the United States. She understood the ethics of unionism and we had no problem. After that, we transited to an elected Caretaker committee. They saw themselves as full blown chairman and came with the mandate of the people and needed to deliver on them.

However, the reality is that the ability of deliver has to do with finance. When its not enough, they find it difficult to deliver. That was the situation they met. As such, we were having issues with them. It was not based on the fact that they hate the union, but the funding of the system of Local Governments was below their expectation. But we have been able to iron out and we are having a good rapport and that we have to rub our minds to find solutions to our problems. The system has come to the point where the rapport is great. The learning process is better.

Q.How are Local Governments meeting their mandates the given way they are managed by the States? .

The constitution does not give true autonomy to the Local Governments. There is a clause that describe the Local Governments as an appendage of the state. That is when the third tier becomes less autonomous. This give us a situation of instability in the Local Governments system. As there is no full autonomy. Even the release of funds to Local Governments is dependent on the state. After the federal allocation committee has met, the states have they own joint allocations committee where they governor sits over the funds and decides what goes to Local Governments.

The Local Governments are suffering very serious financial set back as you cannot develop without money. You would see that even when Local Governments raise funds through ticketing of bikes for examples the fund goes to the State Governments. These are supposed to be Local Governments revenue so that they can add their Internally Generated Revenue and develop with it. But we have no such freedom. We sponsored the bill on autonomy of Local Governments, but we needed a percentage of States to pass it after the National Assembly passed it, most states rejected it.

So autonomy is fast becoming an illusion. There are three autonomy, administrative, political autonomy and financial autonomy. But we have been denied all.

If we had full autonomy, INEC would have been conducting both States, and Local Governments election. That is why we called of scrapping of state electoral bodies. As they  under the serious influence of State governors. It cannot be as independent as the National electoral body.

We also have the issue of over blown salaries. A lot of our funds sink into salaries. When Local Governments was established, the guideline for its growth was not outlined.

The Local Governments have not been able to open up areas of income to match with the growth of its staff development. In my Local Government alone, the department of environment has about five million in salaries to the level 16 staff alone. Excluding the doctors and livestock officers. Perhaps it never intended for graduates to enter the system. But you find that the Local Governments has not actually grown.

So when so much is spent on salaries, the issue of security is handled, there is virtually nothing left. As such you cannot see any development outside the secretariat.

So, its actually difficult of an Local Government chairman to boast of carrying out development projects. Most councils are even indebted to staff. As a NULGE chairman, if my council is owing salary, I would not allow you to embark on projects when welfare has not been taken care of

Q.How does NULGE function?

The funding is through monthly check off dues and 75% goes to State body for remittance to National body. With this we have been able to impact the life of our members.

Prior to our assumption, NULGE Ika North East was purely a union affair. But we have made a difference, through making NULGE day, where we give awards to dedicated staff. From best dressed and more. About 7 awards were given to staff in 2012 and it made all happy and was repeated in 2013, and we launched “The NULGE Chronicle”, a magazine of the Ika North East NULGE. The first in this Local Governments. we gave a star prize to winners, we visited orphanage houses. Direct courtesy calls on traditional rulers, making them aware that as grassroots unions we are build to peaceful atmosphere at the Local Governments level seeing, them as the custodians values. We have also broken the inability to call congress.

Congress is that very difficult thing and call. But I saw congress as the power of the union. It should be held about from times a year, but we have even surpassed that. When emergencies come up I see the congress as the strongest force to back up the Chairman.

Personally, I have a foundation the Corliss Azikiwe Child Care foundation that any child of staff is recognized. The idea is to foster a feeling of oneness irrespective background. We also have the NULGE babies who have the same birthday with me. So, any child born in August wins the foundation baby of the year. We are looking to incorporate widow care as well, but we are keeping it within the constituency.

Q.How are you Motivated in doing this?

Whatever I do here, is borrowed from the State President Comrade David Ofoyeno. He is someone with a very large heart and I tried to find out what the secrets of his success. I discovered he had the spirit of giving without bias. He has a foundation the David Ofoyeno foundation that takes care of widows and retirees. Irrespective of your status provided you work for the council.

We also made arrangements in case of loss of staff by making the management assist. And today we have a benefit that goes to the family. It is now recognized that when a staff loses his life there is a commitment to the family. Ranging from N250, 000.00k to N500,000.00k.

We also have a staff welfare scheme under the union where we work out appropriate benefits. We have been hindered by funding through.

Q.Challenges of NULGE

Understanding the needs of the staff was the first we needed to add that to the union. This is the first EXCO to prepare uniform for all staff of the Ika North East. One of one staff even win the staff prize of a Toyota carry.

The other challenge as I earlier said, is funding. We have been unable to put the next NULGE day together due to funds. We depend on Council for conterpart funding. And whom they cannot, its affects. And we don’t want to move too far, so as not to deviate from Union issues to pure social issues. The NULGE secretariat, which we are building is already at the roofing stage.

Q. Your view on The NLC Elections

Unionism is mutual dialogue. During Oshiomole period, it was unionism based on radical approach the  Union as supposed to be an embodiment of true democracy. But these seem to be a deviation. But I feel politicians are playing the Union against itself. The compromise is what the unionist are fighting against. It would be resolved though. as steps have been taken to handle it.

Q.Advise of administration of Local Governments?

First, we need financial autonomy. Secondly, if it would not be given, they should take away the burden of primary school salaries from Local Governments burden. It is a big one on the cash of the Local Governments. it would be a relief. That can be achieved if the stakeholders have the genuity. They can hold political autonomy. The finance coming to the Local Governments would make a lot of difference and it would become more vibrant.