Africa-Press – Nigeria. The National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Osun State chapter, has said its members will not resume work on Monday until their safety is guaranteed.
The State President of NULGE, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, made this known on Friday while reacting to the suspension of the strike by a factional group, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers of Osun State.
Local government administration in Osun State has been paralysed since Monday, February 17, 2025, following violent clashes between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, over control of council areas.
Dr. Ogungbangbe also directed all local government employees across the state to stay away from their offices to prevent loss of lives amid the political violence.
He explained that the union’s directive was a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding workers from becoming victims of the clashes between rival political parties.
However, the State Coordinator of the factional group, Adedayo Adekunle, accused the NULGE leadership of partisanship and insensitivity by ordering workers to remain at home since February.
Adekunle urged council workers to resume duties immediately, calling on security agencies to provide adequate protection, while insisting that local government staff are apolitical and should not be dragged into political conflicts.
In his reaction to the group’s directive, Dr. Ogungbangbe described the faction’s position as self-serving and warned members against obeying what he termed a “dangerous call” to resume work amid tensions.
He said, “I want our members to note that the stand taken by the leadership of our Union is in defence of democracy and the rule of law in the country, while their own actions are capable of destroying our nascent democracy.”
According to him, those asking workers to return to their duty posts were “killers calling our responsible and well-informed members to resume work so as to be slaughtered because when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.”
The NULGE leader maintained that the elected State Executive Committee under his leadership remains committed to protecting members and prioritising their welfare above all other considerations.
“It is pertinent to note that the elected state NULGE Executives under the leadership of Comrade (Dr.) Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe have decided to protect our members and ensure that their welfarism is highly sacrosanct,” he stated.
Ogungbangbe disclosed that the leaders of the factional group had been suspended indefinitely from NULGE for engaging in what he described as anti-union activities.
He added that the suspended members were yet to recover from the shock of their defeat in the NULGE election held on March 4, 2025, and had since resorted to actions aimed at destabilising the union.
The NULGE president reiterated that the union would not relent in its efforts to defend and protect members against what he called evil plans threatening their safety and welfare.
He assured that NULGE would continue to engage relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure that peace returns to the local government areas before normal administrative activities resume across Osun State.
For More News And Analysis About Nigeria Follow Africa-Press
