Osun LG Crisis: NULGE faction urges workers to resume duty

A faction of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State has called on local government workers to return to work, emphasizing the need to prioritize public service.

The group, operating under the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff, expressed concern that the ongoing closure of council secretariats has caused unnecessary hardship for residents by depriving them of essential services.

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, the group’s coordinator, Adebayo Adekunle, criticized the prolonged work stoppage, describing it as highly irresponsible.

“We urge all committed local government workers to resume duty without further delay,” Adekunle stated.

He pointed out that the closure of council offices has left pregnant women and children in rural areas without access to maternity and clinic services, as well as essential medications.

He, therefore, urged the NULGE leadership in the state to take steps toward reopening the secretariats.

Adekunle further noted that the ongoing dispute has not only affected service delivery but also denied employees their financial and career benefits.

He lamented that many residents have been unable to obtain crucial documents and access other government services due to the strike.

“As civil servants, our duty is to serve the government in power, whether it is the All Progressives Congress (APC) today or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tomorrow. Our responsibility is public service, not politics,” he said.

He added that the group would collaborate with security agencies to ensure the safety of workers upon their return to duty.

The crisis began after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE instructed local government workers to withdraw their services starting February 17.

This directive followed political tensions triggered by a Court of Appeal ruling on February 10.

While the PDP maintained that the judgment did not reinstate the APC council chairpersons and councillors removed in 2022, the APC insisted that the ruling affirmed their return to office.

The situation escalated on February 17, with clashes over control of council secretariats across the state, resulting in six deaths, according to police reports.