- throws weight behind the sit at home directive for all Osun LG workers
- stresses the importance of safety of its personnel
The national leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has thrown its weight behind the local chapter of the Union in Osun State on the stay at home order for all local government employees in view of the current forceful occupation of the Council Secretariats by the opposition party members in the state.
The backing for the stay at home directive came to the fore today when the National President of NULGE, Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara, paid a courtesy call on the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in his office, Bola Ige House, Osogbo.
Comrade Kankara in his remarks viewed the current development in the various Council Secretariat in Osun as sad and politically influenced in such a manner that it has affected the official day-to-day affairs at the grassroots.
A press statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, quoted the NULGE National President as saying;
“We are in Osun State in solidarity with our local chapter of NULGE.
“Apart from being here on solidarity, we are equally here to flay the present situation in the various local government Secretariats vis-a-vis their forceful occupation by the non-constitutionally elected local government chairmen of the opposition party.
“While this is sad, unfortunate and unthinkable, as a national body for all the local government workers in Nigeria, we want to seize this opportunity to commend Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for his maturity and leadership ingenuity in handling the matter. If it were to the contrary, perhaps by now we would have been counting losses of our workers because their lives would have been in danger if they had been going to their places of work with the existing political turbulence situation.
“Finally, while thanking Governor Adeleke for his pro-active approach to douse the quagmire when it first espoused, we want to, however, emphasize for the umpteenth time, that the welfare and safety of our workers at the various councils in Osun state and Nigeria as a whole will continue to be given a pride of place and attention'” ended the remarks by the National President of NULGE.
Responding Governor Adeleke, who was represented by the deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, described the present situation in the Councils as uncalled for.
While thanking the 16 member National delegation of NULGE, Governor Adeleke reiterated that his state is peaceful, contrary to the picture of a gory situation being politically bandied about by opposition party to warrant a declaration of state of emergency.
According to Governor Adeleke “Osun State is peaceful, the opposition party members in the state are only fanning the embers of riotous situation to paint the state and my administration in bad light. God will not allow this to see the light of the day under my leadership as the governor.
“I am sure you must have gone round the state since your arrival, did you see anywhere, where there’s a picture of lawlessness or brigandage that would have warranted the call for a state of emergency? Definitely No.
“The opposition party members, through their Yes/No chairmen are only grandstanding and unnecessarily creating political tension where there’s none.
The Governor further promised that, the wokers’ welfare would continue to be the priority of his administration.
“I thank you for your visit to my state, and I wish you safe journey back to Abuja” ended Governor Adeleke’s remarks while granting audience to the 16 member team of NULGE leadership from Abuja.
Earlier, the Osun State NLC Chairman, eulogised the governor for prioritizing the welfare of the Workers in the state, he stated that, the Osun State Workers will declare their full support for the second term of Governor Adeleke on May 1, which is the workers day.
In a similar vein, the NULGE state President, Comrade Dr. Kehinde Ogungbangbe, used the opportunity of the occasion to dispel the rumours being generated by some dissidents that, the NULGE leadership has compromised because of bribe. He stated that, the NULGE in collaboration with the state NLC in the overall best interest of the state and not because of any inducement.
Members of the State Executive Council as well as the State NLC Chairman, Comrade (Dr,) Christopher Arapasopo and the State JNC Chairman, Comrade Lekan Adediran, the State NULGE President Dr Kehinde Ogungbangbe, were in attendance to receive the high powered delegation.
