Local government workers in Osun State have maintained their stance on not resuming work, asserting that only directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) will determine their return.
HEADLINENEWS reports that the workers had been instructed to stay away from their offices on February 16 due to security concerns arising from a legal battle over the enforcement of a Court of Appeal ruling in Akure. The case involves elected local government officials seeking reinstatement after being removed from office.
The affected officials—chairmen and councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 15, 2022, local government elections—argued 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 claims, stating that the court had not issued a consequential order for their reinstatement but merely allowed the appeal against their removal.
Speaking on the matter, some local government staff members, who requested anonymity, said returning to work was not their immediate concern, citing fears 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, a NULGE official in Osogbo Local Government, identified as Teju, insisted that only NULGE or the NLC could authorize 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.
Other council staff members from Ejigbo, Egbedore, and Osogbo local governments echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that they would not resume work unless directed by the NLC or NULGE.
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 development, the leader of the APC-elected council chairmen, Abiodun Idowu, urged the workers to return, 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.
