Nigeria union workers in Accra to study Ghana’s local governance system

More than 1,000 members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) from the State of Osun are meeting in Accra to study Ghana’s local governance system.

The five-day workshop, which began on Monday, is being organized in collaboration with Local Government Workers Union of Ghana and it is on the theme: “Local Government as a Tool for Grassroots Development.”

A major paper to be deliberated during the event is: “Local Government Administration and its Impact on the Society: Ghana as a case Study”.

Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mohammed Ahmed, welcomed the participants saying Ghana’s vision was to oversee the development of a central administrative authority and promote grassroots participation in the decision making process.

He said in order to ensure an effective decentralization process, Government established a local government service distinct from the civil service.

The Deputy Minister said it was important for Ghana and Nigeria to collaborate and combine their efforts to face contemporary challenges including the socio-economic dilemma confronting local government administration.

Adekomi Jacob Babatunde, NULGE President, State of Osun, said the choice of Ghana for the workshop was based on three reasons – the mutual agreement between NULGE and Ghana’s Local Government Workers Union, the fact that both countries were colonized by Britain and the hospitality of the Ghanaian.

He said the workshop was also to prepare adequately for the 2nd coming of Ogbeni Aregbesola, the Governor of the State of Osun, whom the workers praised for contributing greatly to the welfare of employees and development of the union.

Source: GNA