LG leadership crisis: One week gone, Osun Council workers remain at home
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The crisis rocking the leadership of local governments in Osun State has entered its second week, with council workers refusing to return to work amid escalating political tension and security concerns. The ongoing dispute follows an Appeal Court judgement that reinstated chairmen and councillors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose initial removal had been a major source of contention between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC.
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State Chapter, had directed its members to stay at home, citing fears for their safety in the midst of the ongoing leadership tussle. The union insisted that its members would not return to work until their security could be guaranteed.
“We will not allow our members to return until their safety at work can be assured and guaranteed, which is their constitutional right. We hereby call on all security agencies to ensure the safety of all lives and properties within Osun State local governments and the public in general,” stated Comrade Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, the state president of NULGE.
The standoff has effectively paralysed governance at the local level, with essential administrative services grinding to a halt. Council secretariats remain locked, and workers have maintained compliance with their union’s directive, creating uncertainty about when normalcy will be restored.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged the reinstated local government chairmen to exercise restraint and avoid forcefully taking control of their respective secretariats. He warned against any action that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“The state government will rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats,” Adeleke stated. His call for patience, however, has done little to ease the tensions brewing between the two major political parties.
APC vs PDP: A war of words
The PDP and APC have been locked in a bitter war of words over the crisis, each accusing the other of undermining the rule of law and democracy. While the APC insists that the reinstated chairmen should be allowed to resume their roles immediately, the PDP has commended local government staff for refusing to comply with what it calls an “illegal and coercive directive.”
The PDP, in a statement by its media director, Oladele Olabimiji, condemned the APC’s stance, accusing it of attempting to intimidate public workers into submission.
“The threat issued by the APC is an open demonstration of their habitual hatred for public workers. The organised labour is an indispensable partner in nation-building and must never be treated like slaves who can be ordered around to validate evil machinations against the state,” the statement read.
The PDP further urged the Local Government Service Commission to take steps to protect council workers from undue pressure and ensure that they are not subjected to threats from opposition forces.
Workers stuck in the crossfire
At the heart of this crisis are the local government employees who find themselves caught in a dangerous political crossfire. With conflicting directives from opposing political factions, they are left with little choice but to comply with the union’s stay-at-home order, fearing for their safety should they return to work.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE have jointly reiterated their stand, stating that staff in all local government areas should continue staying away from their offices until further notice. Their decision, they argue, is the only way to prevent workers from being used as pawns in a dangerous power struggle that could spiral into violence.
The way forward
As the crisis lingers, political analysts argue that a lasting resolution can only be achieved through dialogue and strict adherence to legal processes. While the courts have given a verdict reinstating the former chairmen, their return has been met with resistance, highlighting deeper political tensions within the state.
For now, Osun’s local government system remains in limbo, with workers at home, offices locked, and governance at the grassroots level brought to a standstill. Until a peaceful resolution is found, the state’s local government administration will continue to suffer, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the political impasse.
