Chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the October 15, 2022 Osun Local Government election and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress might be in for a serious confrontation over threat by the party’s officials to sack local government workers.
It was observed that the officials returned to their council secretariats on Monday amidst tight security.
Visits to the Ifelodun Local Government headquarters in Ikirun, the Olorunda Local Government Area in Igbona, and the Osogbo Local Government Area secretariat in Oke-Baale, showed that council officials on the platform of the major opposition party had resumed their duties.
A heavy security presence was also noted across major roads in the state, with armed police operatives and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers mounting roadblocks at the entrances to the secretariats.
Security checkpoints were observed along the Osogbo/Kwara boundary road, Osogbo/Ilesa road, and Osogbo/Ibokun road.
Recall that the local government chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were sworn-in last Sunday.
At their inauguration in Osogbo, Governor Ademola Adeleke asked them to stay away from the council secretariats to avoid clash with their present occupants.
However, business activities continued uninterrupted across the state capital.
Apparently tired of the continuous desolation of the council headquarters following the refusal of the workers to resume duties, APC has said it would determine the fate of the workers if they fail to resume duties by Wednesday.
Reacting, Jamiu Olawumi, a former Special Adviser on Education to former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated that the chairmen and councillors had directed local government staff to return to work latest by Wednesday.
He said the officials resumed work in all 30 local government areas, saying, “All chairmen and councillors have resumed in all local governments and area councils in Osun State, including Irewole Local Government.”
“Most of the chairmen have issued press releases this morning instructing their workers to resume by Wednesday at the latest. After Wednesday, if they fail to return, their employment status will be determined. The ultimatum stands at 72 hours,” he added.
Recall that before the election, the state chapter of the NLC had also instructed workers in all LGAs to stay home due to the ongoing dispute between Adeleke and the APC in the state.
Affirming it earlier release notifying all local government area workers in the state to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheaval within their workplaces, the NLC, in a statement by its chairman, Abimbola Arapasopo, said the directive to stay off-work still subsist for the council staff.
“This release further reiterates that our members safety at work is of high priority and we will not allow our members to work in an atmosphere of insecurity.
“The Osun State Council of the NLC remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the masses. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by the desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve
to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved state,” the NLC chairman said.