Osun crisis: LG workers rule out resumption, demand February salary
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Local government workers in Osun State have ruled out an immediate return to work, insisting that only directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Union of Local Government Employees can determine their resumption.
The workers were instructed to stay away from their offices on February 16 by the leadership of NULGE and the NLC due to insecurity concerns arising from the legal tussle over the enforcement of a Court of Appeal judgment in Akure.
The case involved elected local government officials seeking reinstatement after their removal from office.
The affected officials—chairmen and councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress in the October 15, 2022, local government elections—claimed that the Court of Appeal had overturned an earlier judgment by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, which had sacked them on November 25, 2022.
However, the Osun State Government countered their claim, stating that the court did not issue a consequential order for their reinstatement but merely allowed the appeal against their removal.
Speaking anonymously, some local government staff members stated that returning to work was not a priority at the moment, citing concerns over their February salary and the upcoming NULGE state election.
A worker at Boripe Local Government in Iragbiji, identified as Isiaq, told The PUNCH: “No one has asked us to resume yet, and it is not a priority. People fear that the ongoing crisis may affect our salary. We are still waiting for our February salary, and with the NULGE state election this week, those are our main concerns.”
Similarly, an Osogbo Local Government NULGE official, identified as Teju, emphasised that only NULGE or the NLC could order their return to work.
“They should pay our salary first. People are worried that the crisis in the councils might affect our payments,” he said.
Several council staff members from Ejigbo, Egbedore, and Osogbo local governments echoed the same sentiment, affirming that only directives from the NLC or NULGE would prompt their return.
One worker added, “We were told by NULGE and NLC to remain at home, and we haven’t received a new directive. For now, we are waiting for our February salary. We are also observing Ramadan and need our pay.”
Reacting to the situation, the leader of the APC-elected council chairmen, Abiodun Idowu, urged the workers to resume, assuring them of their safety.
“We appeal to them to return so we can deliver on our mandate. They are not supposed to be partisan. Work must continue, and I assure them that their security is guaranteed. Council areas across the state are safe,” Idowu stated.
Efforts to reach Osun NLC Chairman, Mr. Christopher Arapasopo, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered, and he had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report on Sunday.
