Local government workers in Anambra State, under the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), staged a protest at the Anambra State Government House over the alleged diversion of their check-off dues into a private account.

The workers also decried the non-employment of new staff in the state’s local government system for more than two decades, warning that the service may soon face extinction. They argued that while staff continue to retire or pass away, no recruitment has taken place since 2001, leaving the system weak and overstretched.

During the protest, the union submitted a communique to Mrs. Joy Soba, who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The document highlighted grievances such as the diversion of four months’ NULGE statutory dues by the office of the Accountant General for local government, imposition of non-career officers, turning promotions into money-making ventures, compulsory qualifications, dismissal of over 100 staff for alleged certificate forgery, and retention of HODs who have overstayed their tenure.

NULGE leaders, Comrade Eucharia Ughanwunne and Comrade Ike Abugu, called on Governor Soludo to urgently approve mass employment into the local government service, release withheld dues, and reinstate wrongfully dismissed staff. While noting their support for Soludo’s reelection due to his performance, they warned that some appointees in his administration were fueling crises that could undermine his government’s efforts.