By Capital Watch Media
Local government workers in Osun State have vowed not to return to work until their February salaries are paid and official directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, are received.
The workers were instructed to stay home on 16 February due to insecurity concerns stemming from a legal battle over the enforcement of a Court of Appeal judgment in Akure.
The case involves elected local government officials seeking reinstatement after being removed from office.
The officials, elected under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 15 October 2022 elections, claimed the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court in Osogbo that sacked them on 25 November 2022.
However, the Osun State Government argued that the court ruling did not order the reinstatement of the removed officials but merely allowed their appeal.
This legal dispute has created uncertainty within local government councils.
Several local government workers, speaking anonymously, expressed their reluctance to resume work without clear directives and their unpaid salaries.
A staff member from Boripe Local Government, identified as Isiaq, stressed the importance of their February pay.
“No one has asked us to resume yet, and it is not a priority. People fear that the ongoing crisis may affect our salary. We are still waiting for our February salary, and with the NULGE state election this week, those are our main concerns,” Isiaq said.
Similarly, a NULGE official from Osogbo Local Government, identified as Teju, emphasised that only NULGE or the NLC could determine their return to work.
“They should pay our salary first. People are worried that the crisis in the councils might affect our payments,” he said.
The sentiment was echoed by workers from Ejigbo, Egbedore, and Osogbo local governments, who affirmed they would remain at home until NULGE or NLC instructed otherwise.
“We were told by NULGE and NLC to remain at home, and we haven’t received a new directive. For now, we are waiting for our February salary. We are also observing Ramadan and need our pay,” one worker stated.
The leader of the APC-elected council chairmen, Abiodun Idowu, urged the workers to return to their duties, assuring them of their safety.
“We appeal to them to return so we can deliver on our mandate. They are not supposed to be partisan. Work must continue, and I assure them that their security is guaranteed. Council areas across the state are safe,” Idowu said.
Despite these reassurances, the workers remain resolute, linking their resumption to salary payments and official union directives.
Efforts to reach Osun NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered, and messages remained unreplied at the time of this report.
The ongoing crisis stems from political tensions and legal battles over the reinstatement of local government officials, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear among council workers.
As the state awaits the outcome of the NULGE state election and the resolution of the legal issues, local government operations remain largely paralysed, impacting service delivery in affected areas.
The workers’ insistence on receiving their salaries before returning to work underscores their concerns about financial stability amid the crisis.
The situation remains tense as both government officials and labour leaders work towards a resolution.
Residents of Osun State continue to face disruptions in local government services, hoping for a swift resolution that will see council workers back at their posts.
For now, the wait continues — for salaries, directives, and a sense of normalcy in Osun’s local government councils.
