A faction of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State has urged local government workers to return to their duties, emphasizing the need to ease the difficulties faced by the public due to the continued closure of council offices.
Operating under the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff, the group expressed concern that the shutdown of local government secretariats has disrupted essential services, leaving residents in distress.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, the group’s coordinator, Adebayo Adekunle, condemned the prolonged work stoppage, calling it an irresponsible act that has negatively impacted governance at the grassroots level.
“We call on all dedicated local government employees to return to work without further hesitation,” Adekunle stated.
He highlighted how the closure has prevented pregnant women and children in rural areas from accessing healthcare services, including maternity care and medication.
He urged the leadership of NULGE in the state to take immediate action to reopen the council offices.
Adekunle also pointed out that workers have been deprived of their financial entitlements and career progression due to the ongoing disruption.
He added that many residents who require official documents and services from the councils have been left stranded.
“As public servants, our duty is to serve the government in power, whether it is the All Progressives Congress (APC) today or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tomorrow. Our primary focus should be public service, not politics,” he said.
He further assured that the group would work with security agencies to ensure the safety of workers when they resume duty.
The crisis originated when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE directed local government workers to withdraw their services from February 17, following a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10.
While the PDP argued that the ruling did not reinstate the APC local government chairpersons and councillors who were removed in 2022, the APC insisted that the decision validated their return to office.
The dispute led to violent clashes on February 17, as both parties attempted to take control of local government secretariats, resulting in six confirmed deaths, according to police reports.