The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State chapter, has rejected claims by a faction of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) led by Mr. Abiodun Idowu over continued occupation of local government secretariats in the state, warning that any breakdown of law and order should be held against the group.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State chapter, has rejected claims by a faction of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) led by Mr. Abiodun Idowu over continued occupation of local government secretariats in the state, warning that any breakdown of law and order should be held against the group.
In a rejoinder issued on Tuesday and signed by the Osun NULGE President, Comrade Kehinde Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, the union described as “spurious and illegal” allegations made by Mr. Idowu against NULGE following the union’s resumption notice to its members.
Ogungbangbe said the union was alarmed by what it termed forceful and unlawful claims to leadership of the 30 local government councils by the Idowu-led ALGON, insisting that the purported tenure of the chairmen and councillors expired in October 2025.
According to the NULGE president, the union deliberately stayed away from the councils since February 2025 in the interest of peace when the local government crisis began, expressing confidence that the impasse would be resolved through constitutional and legal means.
He faulted ALGON’s reliance on a pending court case to justify continued occupation of council secretariats, arguing that the filing of a suit at the Federal High Court does not amount to legal authority to remain in office without an interim or substantive court order.
“There is no interim injunction or court order empowering them to remain in the council secretariats,” Ogungbangbe said, adding that mere filing of a case does not guarantee victory or confer legitimacy.
The union questioned the implication of ALGON’s position, asking whether the group intended to remain in office indefinitely if the court case drags on for years, a situation it described as unacceptable and contrary to the law.
NULGE urged Mr. Idowu and his team to return to court for an expeditious determination of their suit, stressing that only a favourable court ruling could lawfully empower them to resume duties at the councils.
The union also appealed to security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to caution the ALGON faction against actions capable of disrupting peace in the state, warning that any attempt to forcefully occupy local government secretariats could lead to unrest.
Ogungbangbe reiterated NULGE’s directive for all local government workers in Osun State to resume work at their duty posts on Monday, January 5, 2026, while advising workers to remain calm and peaceful in the face of any provocation and to report incidents to law enforcement agencies.
He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to protecting the interests of its members and maintaining peace and stability across Osun State.
