A faction of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Osun State Branch, has called on the local government workers to resume work on Monday in the interest of the general public and local government workers.
The faction described the protracted withdrawal of services as height of irresponsibility and share wickedness, adding that grounding local government services and subjecting members of the public to unnecessary hardship with denial of basic government services is selfish and unpatriotic.
The local government workers, under the auspices of Association of Concerned local Government Staff in Osun State, said the local government employees cannot continue to be denied their monetary and career privileges over needless withdrawal of services.
State Coordinator of the faction, Adedayo Adekunle and Secretary, Akin Adepoju, during a press conference held at the Correspondent Chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osogbo, alleged the NULGE President, Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe of nepotism and flagrant disobedience to the constitution of NULGE especially in respect to the withdrawal of services.
According to the NULGE leaders, “our dear colleagues and patriots, a clarion call summons us today to review the on-going events going on in our state.
“It is unfortunate that the NULGE leadership has turned the union to their family affairs with total disregard to the leadership and structure of the union at all levels.
“You will all recall that Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, the President of NULGE recently signed a letter to close down the local government secretariats. Despite the fact that the State Branch of the Union has a paid-Secretary, Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, just to please his selfish interest, signed the circular personally to close down the local governments Secretariats, Maternity Centers, and Marriage Registries without holding any Congress of Local Government workers.
“Notwithstanding his claim that Local Government secretariats are no longer safe for staff to work, he opened same Local Government secretariats for the purpose of conducting his second term election where he succeeded in manipulating himself to win second term. No life was lost during the elections. No person was arrested and social parties were held during the day and nights to celebrate his purported victory. Yet, all Maternity Centers are continually locked against women and children and are perpetually sentenced to death by the reckless shutting down of the Local Government service in Osun State by this desperate politician in the garb of a unionist”
“For over a month now, those who need marriage certificates, local government identification and other important documents have been denied unjustly. Local Government workers who are due for study release are watching helplessly and the local government cooperative loans deductions that usually serve as reliefs for members in time of needs could not be assessed because of illegal withdrawal of services.
“The Osun NULGE is supposed to be apolitical, but to show the height of Ogungbangbe’s desperation, he joined the People’s Democratic Party in suit against the APC Chairmen and Councilors thus making himself and NULGE a contending party in the struggle for the soul of the Local Government. He has the right to continue to maintain his suit as a person but cannot justifiably close down the Local Government activities without carrying along all other Unions and members of NULGE.”
Maintaining the neutrality of NULGE, Adedayo stated that the litigation instituted by Ogungbangbe is in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of Osun NULGE.
Maintaining the neutrality of NULGE, Adedayo stated that the litigation instituted by Ogungbangbe is in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of Osun NULGE.
“Our oath, culture and philosophy are to serve all government legally in power. If it is APC today or PDP tomorrow, our business is public service delivery and not any political party in power.
“It is our duty and we are ready to work with those who are lawfully present at the local government secretariats through a Court of Appeal Judgment and if tomorrow, the Supreme Court say otherwise or their tenure expires, we are still going to work with those who would be occupying the political offices in our local governments. That is our covenant.
“We therefore call on all local government workers to resume immediately. We assure to provide leadership by liaising with security agents to ensure the security of lives and properties of all the workers.
Adedayo also condemned the political association of Ogungbangbe which is against the core values of the union, threatening to challenge all the infractions committed by him in the court to discourage a very bad precedent in civil service and NULGE administration.
