By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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The Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given reasons why local government workers should not resume their duty posts.

According to findings, this decision was made due to concerns about the safety of local government workers.

There has been palpable tension in the state following the crisis surrounding the resumption of All Progressives Congress (APC ) chairmen after the Appeal Court’s judgment.

The crisis has resulted in the loss of lives and properties. The ruling party, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, insisted that no court judgment reinstated the APC chairmen and councilors, emphasizing that they remain sacked.

It will be recalled that the crisis erupted following claims and counterclaims by both the ruling PDP and the APC over the Appeal Court judgment, which allegedly reinstated the sacked local government chairmen and councilors elected under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

Our correspondent learned that the leadership of the NLC has issued a directive to members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state to withdraw their services due to the ongoing crisis surrounding the control of local councils.

The Chairman of the NLC in the state, Christopher Abimbola Arapasopo, maintained that the safety and security of NULGE members, who are affiliates of the Congress, remain paramount. He stated that workers would not resume duties in their respective councils until peace and a conducive environment were guaranteed.

Arapasopo, in a statement reaffirming the directive, 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 council employees to resume duties.

According to him, “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 are assured.

“We are not happy with the ongoing developments. The NLC won’t risk the lives of our members by making them work under an atmosphere we consider to be unpredictable. Once we are convinced that the situation has improved tremendously, we will direct our members to resume work.”

It should also be recalled that some concerned factional members of ALGON in the state, at a press conference last week, condemned the continued denial of workers’ right to resume their duties, stating that it is detrimental to the development of the state.

The concerned group emphasised that ALGON is apolitical and should not be drawn into political conflicts. They stressed that the welfare of local government workers should be ALGON’s utmost priority.

However, the group insisted that there is an urgent need for workers to resume their duties and allow politicians to settle their differences since ALGON is an apolitical body with the mandate to protect the interests of its members.