NLC and APC clash over council workers’ resumption

The Osun State Council of the Ni­geria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, disputed with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State over the resumption of duty by council workers.

This is as the Osun NLC restated its earlier Sunday statement notifying all local gov­ernment council workers in the state to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheav­al within their workplaces.

The APC in Osun State had disclosed that a 72-hour resump­tion directive had been issued by its alleged reinstated chairmen to local government workers across the state.

The Osun NLC made their posi­tion public in a statement by its chairman, Christopher Arapaso­po, in Osogbo.

The statement reads, “The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly affirm her earlier release notify­ing all local government area workers in the state to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheaval within their workplaces still subsist, while continuing in their prayers for the state.

“This release further reiter­ates that our members’ safety at work is of high priority and we will not allow our members to work in an atmosphere of in­security.

“The Osun State Council of the NLC remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the masses. We shall not be cowed or frightened by their desperate attempts to muzzle us. We stand resolute in our resolve to maintain justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our great state.”

The APC has declared any local government worker who failed to resume work on Wednesday would have his job terminated.

The Osun APC also accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of intending to provoke violence through non-state actors despite his advice on newly elected council chairmen to avoid local government secretariats.

In a statement released on Monday by Kola Olabisi, the party’s Director of Media and In­formation, the APC described the governor’s directive as deceitful, claiming that Adeleke intends to attack the ‘legally’ reinstated chairmen and councilors using the Amotekun Corps and mili­tants allegedly brought from Oyo State and the Niger Delta.

“Intelligence available at our disposal indicates that the gover­nor’s political dynasty, currently headed by business mogul Dr. Deji Adeleke, is displeased with the national embarrassment following the charade election conducted by the government,” the statement continues.

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The APC said the direc­tive for the sworn-in chairman to stay away from council secre­tariats was a “smokescreen” and accused Adeleke and his party of conspiring to stir unrest and implicate the ‘legally’ reinstated chairmen.

The party also implicated Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party’s (PDP) Governors’ Forum, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in the purported attempt to disrupt Osun State.

According to the APC, Ma­kinde had recruited thugs from Ibadan to Osogbo for the in­auguration of the unlawful council chairmen while Mohammed re­portedly gained support from a PDP governor to deploy Niger Delta militants to the state.

The APC further said that militants, disguised in security uniforms were being positioned to intimidate residents and abduct opposition members to cause panic and mayhem.

The message claimed that the Amotekun Corps, directed by re­tired police officer CSP Adekunle Omoyele, would offer cover for the accused militants by equipping them with hooded garments and masks to conceal their identity.

“We urge security agents to visit the official quarters of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, where an assembly of suspected cultists, hoodlums, and militants is being trained,” the statement added.

The APC called on Osun State population, particularly workers and traders, to remain watchful and asked security personnel to step up efforts to safeguard the people from potential violence.

Chairmen elected on the plat­form of the APC in the October 15, 2022 Osun local government election returned to their coun­cil secretariats on Monday amid heavy security.

Sources at Ifelodun Local Gov­ernment Area headquarters in Ikirun, the Olorunda Local Gov­ernment Area in Igbona, and the Osogbo Local Government Area secretariat in Oke-Baale reported council officials had resumed their jobs.

A substantial security presence was also noticed across major routes in the state, with armed police operatives and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps members constructing road­blocks at the entrances to the secretariats.

Security checks were ob­served along the Osogbo/Kwara boundary route, Osogbo/Ilesa road, and Osogbo/Ibokun road.

However, commercial activity continued undisturbed around the state capital.