NLC, APC Disagree Over Resumption Of Council Workers

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

This is as the Osun NLC reaffirmed 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 has been issued by its alleged reinstated chairmen to local government workers across the state.

The Osun NLC made its posi­tion known 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 intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved state.”

The APC had said 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 planning to instigate violence through non-state actors despite his directive 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 reads.

The APC claimed the direc­tive for the sworn-in chairmen to stay away from council secre­tariats was a “smokescreen” and accused Adeleke and his party of plotting to foment trouble and frame 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 alleged plan to destabilise Osun State.

According to the APC, Ma­kinde had mobilised thugs from Ibadan to Osogbo during the in­auguration of the illegal council chairmen while Mohammed re­portedly secured support from a PDP governor to deploy Niger Delta militants to the state.

The APC further alleged that militants, disguised in security uniforms were being positioned to intimidate citizens and abduct opposition members to create fear and chaos.

The statement claimed that the Amotekun Corps, led by re­tired police officer CSP Adekunle Omoyele, would provide cover for the alleged militants by supplying them with hooded clothing and masks to conceal their identities.

“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 citizens, particularly workers and traders, to remain vigilant and urged security forces to step up efforts to protect 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 tight security.

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

A heavy security presence was also noted across major roads in the state, with armed police operatives and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers mounting road­blocks at the entrances to the secretariats.

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

However, business activities continued uninterrupted across the state capital.