Tension rented the atmosphere at the Irepodun local government, Ilobu, Osun on Thursday as staff of the Council under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, attacked the Chairman of the LG, Barr. Adegoke Ogunsola.
It was gathered that the NULGE led by its Chairman, Comrade Jamiu Oyeleke has earlier engaged in fisticuffs with the Council secretary, before the arrival of the Chairman. It was gathered that the staff, who were allegedly demanding for some unpaid entitlements, have seized the official car of the secretary to the Council.
InsightMedia also gathered that the Council Manager, Mrs Toyin Eye escaped being attacked by whiskers as she had left her office before the rioting staff got there.
When contacted by InsightMedia, Council Chairman, Ogunsola told our Correspondent that he has no issue with any member of staff in the local government, accusing the NULGE of resorting to violence without firstly discussing with him.
Ogunsola said, “When I was going to thr local government yesterday, someone told that me there was going to be issue that I should not go but I insisted on going. On getting there I met some persons who I later identified to be members of NULGE, struggling with the Council Secretary. They wanted to seize his car and the struggling was on.
“Immediately I alighted from my and told the secretary to give them the car key. At that moment, I realized that I didn’t not remove my car keys and some had enter and drove it into the local government. I trekked in and asked them what transpired but they said they had an issue with the Council Manager who had escaped.
“Their grievances bordered on their welfare and I said it will be resolved but they said they would not allow me, the Vice Chairman and the Secretary take our cars and I left it with them.”
When asked if he’s aware of any unpaid allowances the Council is owning the staff, Ogunsola said, “I’m not aware of any allowances. But I know is that they said they have some claims that have been approved but not paid and I have promised to pay them. But what triggered their action is that we recently paid severance of some past political office holders and they are not happy with that.”
Sources told InsightMedia that the Council Chairman has been having running battles with the staff, some groups within the community and several stakeholders. But when asked if he’s aware of any wrangling, the Chairman denied it. He also accused NULGE members of not having any discussion with him before turning it to confrontation.
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“They never brought it to my attention. The only matter brought to me was the issue of their end of the year party. I initially told them that their demand was too high and they should reduce it. They did that and brought it back to me on Monday and I immediately initiated processes that will lead to release of the funds.”
When contacted, the Chairman of NULGE, Irepodun local government, Comrade Jamiu Oyeleke told InsightMedia that he was at a meeting and that he would call back “in 10 minutes”. But all calls to his line in the last 24 hours went unanswered while a text message sent was not also responded to. Same to his Secretary, Comrade Omidele Waheed, who didn’t pick calls to him too.
