The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in Osun State has insisted that the state’s local government workers will not resume duties yet because their security is not guaranteed.
Already, the congress has issued a directive to all members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state to withdraw their services over the crisis surrounding the control of local councils in the state.
NLC chairman in the state, Christopher Abimbola Arapasopo, maintained that the safety and security of NULGE members, who are affiliates of the Congress, remain paramount and that they would not resume duties in their respective councils until peace and enabling environment are guaranteed.
Insisting on the directive in a statement, he also urged members of the public to disregard the position of a factional body, under the aegis of the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff, which recently directed councils’ employees to resume duties.
Arapasopo said, “We have been monitoring the situation with the interest of all our members working within the local councils as our primary concern. We hereby direct that all council workers in Osun State should continue to stay at home until peace and serenity can be assured.
“We are not happy with the ongoing development. The NLC won’t risk the lives of our members to work under an atmosphere we consider to be summarily unpredictable. Once we are convinced that the situation has improved tremendously, we will direct our members to resume work.”
Tension had ensued following the sacked council chairmen and councillors, elected during the preceding All Progressive Congress administration of Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, now a Minister, resumed at the council secretariats statewide after an Appeal Court judgement, which their party believed reinstated them.
The APC, which rules at the federal level, is now the opposition party in Osun.
But the PDP which accused the APC of misinterpreting the Appeal Court judgement and unilateral forceful take-over of the council secretariats, opposed the resumption, and asked its own officials to stay away from the secretariats for now to avert clashes which might precipitate a total breakdown of law and order.
Already, the crisis has resulted into lost of lives and properties.
The ruling party has insisted in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi that there is no court judgement reinstating the sacked APC chairmen and councilors.
“There is no court judgement that reinstated YES and NO chairmen and councilors of APC. No court has vacated the earlier judgement sacking them.”
Crisis had erupted following claims and counter claims by both the PDP and the APC over the Appeal Court judgement.
