There was anger among workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees in Edo State, over the rejection of local government autonomy by the state house of assembly. The Bill, ‘Further Alter the Provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’ was tabled before the House Committee on Rules, Business and Government for deliberation on 58 contentious issues on Wednesday. However, eight of the issues, including local government autonomy, were rejected through a voice vote, after consideration by the committee, chaired by the Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu. But the decision of the house, led by the Speaker Uyi Igbe, sparked a protest among the local government workers who were also at the government house awaiting the outcome of the sitting. The protesters marched through Reservation Road at the General Residential Area, chanting solidarity songs. Addressing journalists, the State President of NULGE, Mr. Edward Young, accused the lawmakers of betraying the workers by “placing their interest against the interested of their people.” He expressed disappointment that the assembly went ahead to reject the bill despite several calls by the workers to uphold the proposed autonomy. “Right before our eyes, our representatives said no to local government autonomy. “Now, we are prepared. They have exercised their own influence against the people and we want to do our own in February,” Young said. The president, however, urged the workers to use their votes to express their displeasure during the 2015 general elections. Young said, “People who don’t want progress for our state, people who don’t want quality leadership in local government have no business in legislature. “So, I urge the good people of Edo State to join NULGE, civil societies, market women, youths and students and all progressive organisation to say, ‘No,’ to them in February. “Come February, we will speak and they will hear. They have said their own in one corner and ran away. “In February, they will meet us at the polling booth. Exercise your right; let them know that power belongs to the people.” Earlier, a civil society leader in the state, Mr. Austin Osakue, described the decision of the lawmakers as an act against the wishes of the people, even when 13 state houses of assembly, including Lagos, Abia and Kogi, had adopted the bill. He also threatened to mobilise voters in the state to vote against their “real enemies” at the polls.