By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Association of Concerned Local Government Staff of Osun State has condemned the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) for its flagrant disregard for the core values and principles of the union.

The group, at a press conference held at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Osun State, accused the NULGE leadership of engaging in partisan politics to the detriment of local government workers’ welfare and security.

Speaking at the event, the group’s leader, Adebayo Adekunle, alleged that NULGE had wrongly and selfishly positioned the union against the people of the state, acting in total disregard for its core values and principles.

He said, “It is unfortunate that the NULGE leadership has turned the union into a family affair, disregarding its structure and leadership at all levels.”

Adekunle recalled that Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, the NULGE President, recently signed a directive to shut down local government secretariats across the state.

He noted that despite the state branch having a paid Secretary, Ogungbangbe personally signed the circular ordering the closure of local government secretariats, maternity centres, and marriage registries without convening a workers’ congress, allegedly to serve his selfish interests in the state.

“Despite NULGE not being the only union operating in the local government service, Ogungbangbe used his influence to clamp down on other registered unions, shutting down local government activities to please his sponsors,” he alleged.

Adekunle added, “This cannot continue. How can he claim that the local government service is unsafe for staff, yet proceed to conduct his second-term election? He manipulated the process to secure re-election.”

He further questioned the rationale behind the closure of local government services when “no life was lost during the elections, no arrests were made, and social gatherings were held freely, yet maternity centres remained locked, denying women and children essential healthcare services.”

According to Adekunle, Ogungbangbe, a medical doctor and member of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), ought to respect the Hippocratic Oath but instead supervised the closure of maternity centres, immunisation centres, clinics, and drug stores simply because he disagreed with a court judgment that should not concern NULGE.

“The implication of this is that hundreds of pregnant women and thousands of innocent children may have been condemned to early graves due to the illegal strike action unilaterally declared by Ogungbangbe. Colleagues, this must stop now!” he stressed.

He also lamented that for over a month, individuals needing marriage certificates, local government identification, and other vital documents had been denied access unjustly.

According to him, local government workers due for study leave are left stranded, while cooperative loan deductions that ordinarily provide financial relief to members have been rendered inaccessible due to the illegal withdrawal of services.

Adekunle stated, “NULGE is meant to be apolitical, yet Ogungbangbe joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors, making himself and NULGE a contending party in the local government power struggle.”

He insisted that NULGE must remain neutral, stating, “We unequivocally declare that the said litigation is Ogungbangbe’s personal decision and not on behalf of Osun NULGE.”

He added, “Our oath, culture, and philosophy are to serve any legally recognised government, whether APC today or PDP tomorrow. Our role is public service delivery, not partisan politics.”

Adekunle warned that it was the height of irresponsibility and sheer wickedness to ground the local government service, subject the public to unnecessary hardship, and deny employees their monetary and career privileges over a needless withdrawal of services.

He, therefore, urged all local government workers to resume work immediately, assuring them that the group would liaise with security agencies to ensure their safety.

He further assured members that all constitutional infractions committed by Ogungbangbe against the union would be legally challenged to prevent a dangerous precedent in the civil service and NULGE administration.

“This is the time to save millions of lives,” he declared.