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Tag: NULGE

  • Osun LG crisis: NULGE faction directs resumption of workers

    Osun LG crisis: NULGE faction directs resumption of workers

    •Says health system, others down
    •’Our salaries now sourced from state govt’

    Amid the battle for the control of local government areas in Osun State, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has split into factions as the leadership of a new faction directed workers to resume duties with immediate effect.

    The new faction lamented that service delivery to citizens including health, issuance of marriage, and State of Origin certificates, among others, have been greatly affected.

    The Nation recalled that council workers at the instance of NULGE had withdrawn their services since February 16, 2025, after the reinstated council chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to resume office, which the state government opposed.

    Read Also: Aviation: Nigeria, Canada sign codesharing agreement 

    The factional council workers union, under the aegis of the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff in Osun State, said the local government employees cannot continue to be denied their monetary and career privileges over needless withdrawal of services.

    The coordinator of the faction, Comrade Adedayo Adekunle, and Secretary, Akin Adepoju during a press conference held at the Correspondent Chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ), Osogbo on Saturday alleged the NULGE President, Nathaniel Ogungbangbe of nepotism and flagrant disobedience to the constitution of NULGE especially in respect to the withdrawal of services.

     Adekunle said:  “The leadership of the NULGE, Osun state has wrongly and selfishly pitched our union against the people of the state in total disregard to the core values and principles of our union.

  • Fresh crisis rocks Osun councils over NULGE election

    Fresh crisis rocks Osun councils over NULGE election

    Fresh crisis has engulfed the administration of Osun councils over the election of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). 

    The Nation learnt upon the expiration of tenure of the incumbent President of the union, Comrade Kehinde Ogungbangbe, a screen committee was constituted to screen aspirants. 

    It was gathered that about 10 aspirants who are not in fold of the incumbent President were allegedly fraudulently screened out. 

    A statement by the aspirants, including Comrade Olaposi Owolabi, Aderinwale Adegboyega, Isola Temitope and seven others alleged they were screened out because the could not meet the Rule 7C(XII) of the union’s constitution. 

    Read Also: NULGE tasks FG on swift action on LG financial autonomy implementation

    It was stated: “Before anybody can contest for state excos, he must have held a position at the branch, the incumbent president and some of his loyalists are not qualified.

    “To avert the looming crisis that may erupt on Tuesday, 4th of March 2025, at congress centre, others who are not qualified should be removed from the ballot.”

    According to a security source, there may be crisis at the venue of the congress tomorrow because people are not pleased with biased screening of aspirants. 

    They have reported at DSS command, Osogbo and Police Command and unsure if it will hold under the atmosphere of crisis.

  • Ondo 2024: NULGE endorses Governor

    Ondo 2024: NULGE endorses Governor

    Members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have pledged support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to continue in office after 2025.

    The NULGE members gave the endorsement at the NULGE DAY ceremony held in Akure, the state capital.

    State President of NULGE, Fredrick Akinrilola, said Governor Aiyedatiwa has consistently addressed concerns of the union and prioritized welfare of its members.

    Read Also; Tunji-Ojo, Correctional Service and global standard

    Akinrilola explained that the union’s decision to back Governor Aiyedatiwa stemmed from the Governor’s track record of improving their working conditions.

    Aiyedatiwa, on his part, assured that the era of part payment and percentage-based salary payments was over.

    The Governor, who thanked the union for the endorsement and the award, approved payment of leave bonuses for mainstream civil servants.

    He said, “I understand that you all didn’t come out today just to make a show of numbers. You are here to express your solidarity with me, and I am deeply appreciative of that.”

  • Apapa donates vehicles to police, legislators, NULGE

    Apapa donates vehicles to police, legislators, NULGE

    Chairman of Apapa Local Government Idowu Senbanjo has donated vehicles to the police, legislators, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Primary Health Centre.

    The trio of Area B Police Command, Ijora Badia Police Command and Nigeria Port Authority Police Command were among the beneficiaries.

    Senbanjo said the vehicles were given to various police commands and community groups to support their operations and enhance service delivery.

    This, she said, is part of her efforts to protect the people of the Port City Council,

    While presenting the vehicles, Senbanjo acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the police to the Apapa community and expressed her desire to support their efforts in reducing crime rates.

    She emphasised the importance of collaboration between the council and security agencies in maintaining law and order.

    Read Also: Nigeria seeks stronger EU partnership to combat malnutrition

    Senbanjo said the ambulance to the Primary Health Centre was necessary to enhance emergency services in the community.

    The donated vehicles included Sienna buses and an ambulance, which would facilitate efficient patrol operations, emergency response, and official transportation for the beneficiaries.

    “This gesture demonstrates our dedication to improving the lives of Apapa residents and promoting a safer, healthier community,” she said.

  • Consider LGs for GDP growth – NULGE

    Consider LGs for GDP growth – NULGE

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called for financial, administrative, and political autonomy for local governments.

    The NULGE National President, Mr Ambali Olatunji, said in Lagos on Saturday that autonomy was important for Nigeria to grow its gross domestic product more and curb insecurity.

    Olatunji spoke in an interview with the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Olatunji said: “We must make local governments financially, administratively and politically autonomous.

    “We must consider community policing so that there must be guarding at the community level.

    “Our policing policy should not be reactionary, but pre-emptive to be able to address insecurity.

    “Our opinion is that the local government must be the platform for policing evolution in Nigeria.”

    The labour leader also called on  the Federal Government to create a policy that would address unemployment at the local government level.

    He called for revival of the vocational skills acquisition department of local governments.

    Read Also: NULGE continues push for autonomy, hails Tinubu

    According to him, this will ensure that women and youths in the rural communities are trained and empowered.

    “The vocational skills acquisition department across local governments has been erased systematically, overtime.

    “This level of government should be given adequate attention to address the needs of those in the rural settings.

    “It will go a long way to improve  livelihoods and ensure a better Nigeria for everyone,“ Olatunji said. (NAN)

  • LG autonomy will end insecurity, poverty, others, says NULGE

    LG autonomy will end insecurity, poverty, others, says NULGE

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has said local government autonomy would bring solutions to insecurity, poverty and other social vices bedevilling the nation.

    Speaking with reporters recently,  the President of NULGE, Olatunji Ambali, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the vices and found local government autonomy as the solution.

    “We are grateful to God that a courageous leader has been elected in the person of President Bola Tinubu who has understudied the challenges bedevilling Nigeria in terms of insecurity, poverty, infrastructure gap, unemployment and took the bull by the horns,” he said.

    He noted that Tinubu’s position was also informed by the fact that Nigerians are not feeling the impact of the economic intervention coming from the federal government.

    “You cannot also blame him because all his interventions in the past one year have not rubbed off on the community because somebody somewhere has been seizing local government funds and also diverted the IGR of local governments,” he said.

    He said 70 per cent of Nigeria’s problem would be solved when autonomy returns to the local government.

    The NULGE chief, who is also the treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the union was grateful to the President for his support of the union’s struggle.

    “However, Mr. President has done the needful, we are happy and express our solidarity with him. We also pray for victory for the case in court.

    Read Also: NULGE continues push for autonomy, hails Tinubu

    “Once we have a functional local government system that has direct access to our allocation, and can carry out day-to-day activities, deliver dividends of democracy, more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s problems would have been resolved,” he said.

    According to Ambali, the rural roads would open up, infrastructural challenges would reduce, there would be food security at the grassroots because it is the local government that owns the land.

    He said women and youths would be trained in vocational skills, which would reduce unemployment and poverty.

    On insecurity, the NULGE president said once there are functional local governments, “they can organise the locals, register traditional security outfits, kit them and remunerate them well”.

    He said what Nigeria needs is community police and not state police. Highlighting the expectation of the union at the Supreme Court, Olatunji said the union “prays that God Almighty would give us victory”.

    He added that the union would also want the court to scrap the joint account allocation committee, which has been a conduit through which money meant for local governments is siphoned.

    The NULGE boss also lamented that there have never been credible elections at local government.

    He said: “We hope that the state independent electoral commission would be scrapped and their functions transferred to a more credible and more acceptable umpire.”

    Expressing his views on why some state governors have been resisting local government autonomy, Ambali said it was not only governors but other state political actors and those “who benefit from a corrupt system and would not want the change’’.

  • NULGE continues push for autonomy, hails Tinubu

    NULGE continues push for autonomy, hails Tinubu

    • Holds rally to support Fed Govt

    Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring autonomy for local governments.  The union also announced plans for a solidarity rally today simultaneously in all 774 councils nationwide.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos, President General, Ambali Olatunji, hailed President Bola Tinubu for backing  local government autonomy, adding he his is the first  sitting president to do so.

    He said: ”President Tinubu means well, therefore, we will support him. There will be a rally today in 774 councils simultaneously to support push for autonomy.

    Next week, there will be state rally before national solidarity rally in Abuja. We pray Tinubu’s has long life because of his plans for the country.”

    Olatunji said it was time states  managed their allocation, while local governments are to do same.

    Read Also: Binance will face due pocess on financial crimes charges – FG

    He said NULGE and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have partnered to ensure transparency and accountability regarding local government funds.

    The Federal Government had approached the Supreme Court to compel governors ogrant full autonomy to local governments.

    The suit, SC/CV/343/2024, was filed by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, on behalf of Federal Government.

    Federal Government wants  the court to issue “an order prohibiting governors from unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.”

  • N35,000 wage award, automatic promotion for workers excite Rivers NULGE

    N35,000 wage award, automatic promotion for workers excite Rivers NULGE

    The local chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State has lauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara for approving the immediate promotion of council employees with full financial benefits.

    NULGE President in the state Clifford Paul made the commendation in a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt.

    According to Paul, the governor announced the approval during his meeting with NULGE leadership and principal officers of the Local Government Councils at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    Read Also: Stakeholders demand NULGE president’s resignation over illegalities

    He noted that the governor also approved the immediate implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage for local government workers.

    Paul said: “The governor also approved the immediate implementation of the N35, 000 wage award approved by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

    “We commend the governor for the inclusion of NULGE in the Local Government Pensions Board, as provided by law.

    “We also commend him for the implementation of a consolidated salary structure for Local Government workers retiring at grade level 17.”

    He pledged the loyalty, cooperation, solidarity and support of the local government workers to the Fubara-led government.

  • Stakeholders demand NULGE president’s resignation over illegalities

    Stakeholders demand NULGE president’s resignation over illegalities

    Workers in Ondo have called for the resignation of a public servant occupying two seats in the state.

     A petition addressed to the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Femi Idris, decried what they described as a constitutional breach arising from simultaneous occupation of dual public offices by Mr Bola Taiwo as President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State Chapter, being a staff of Akure South Local Government and full time member, Ondo Local Government Service Commission.

     The petitioners demanded immediate resignation from the office and the refund of salaries, entitlements, and benefits accruing to the two offices to the coffers of NULGE and the Ondo State Government.

     Insisting that Taiwo ought to have resigned as NULGE President after accepting to serve as a commissioner in the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission, the petition signed by a counsel, Otunba Henry Orumen, recalls how Taiwo emerged in 2019, as the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Ondo chapter for four years.

      Taiwo was also accused of failing, refusing, and / or neglecting to take a cue from his predecessor in NULGE, Ondo State presidency – Dr. Bunmi Eniayewu “who promptly resigned when he was elevated to the position of a permanent secretary”.

    Read Also: NULGE seeks upward review of council workers’ salary

     The petition reads further: “While everyone was watching you to do the needful, you threw caution to the wind and took the benefits of both offices with impunity that smacks of a violent breach of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

     “Be it noted, sir, that as a human being, you cannot short circuit nature by being in two places at the same time, and you can not expectedly eat your cake and still have it.”

     The petitioners gave Taiwo an ultimatum to resign from office as Commissioner, Ondo State Local Government Service Commission as well as make immediate refund of all salaries, entitlements and benefits that he collected from both offices to date to the coffers of the NULGE and Ondo State Government.

    Orumen warned that if Taiwo fails to heed “this simple and harmless demand,” he would face public interest litigation seeking to compel the anti-graft agencies to investigate him for corrupt practices that flies in the face of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

  • Council unveils buses, office as NULGE gets exco

    Council unveils buses, office as NULGE gets exco

    Kosofe Local Government in Lagos State has unveiled three buses for staff transportation.

    Council Chairman, Moyosore Ogunlewe, in addition, inaugurated  NULGE’s (National Union of Local Government Employees’) office and five staff lavatories.

     NULGE members, at the event, swore in new executives, led by Oyefeso Raufu-Oyemade, who was taking over from Ade Orababa.

    Member representing Kosofe Constituency 1 at House of Assembly, Sanni Okanlawon, in whose honour the office was named, said the council chairman has surpassed his expectation.

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     Oyemade promised to surpass the former chairman, who he acknowledged did well.

     “I was his secretary; so I know everything about his operations and achievements, and with support of the chairman, I will perform.

     Orababa gave kudos to the chairman for always responding to their demands, saying “he has fulfilled his promises to us 100 per cent.’’

    The council chair noted the buses would cushion effect of subsidy removal.