Fayose Sacks 3 Of Our Members For Resisting Diversion Of N1.24 b- Ekiti NULGE
The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees,
NULGE in Ekiti State has accused the State Governor, Mr. Ayodele
Fayose, of relieving three members of the association of their jobs
for resisting alleged diversion of a sum of N1.24 billion to pay
allowances of the Local Government’s political heads.
This accusation was contained in a letter dated 13th March, 2017 and
signed by NULGE’s State Secretary, Comrade Muyiwa Cole, which was
addressed to some top government officials in the state.
They said the union’s State Deputy President, Comrade O.B. Olatunde,
was allegedly queried over the matter and dismissed from service by
the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) on the order of the
governor.
The letter added that two other NULGE top notches, Com Akem Alaketu,
the Ado- Ekiti Branch Chairman and his counterpart in Ijero council
area, Owounni Olaoluwa , also suffered similar fate.
The Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr.
Lanre Ogunsuyi, when contacted said only the governor can react on the
matter while the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, added
that he would react later.
The NULGE leaders maintained that the one billion naira was resolved
at the meeting of January, 2017 , which they held with council
bosses that the money should be used for the payment of outstanding
balance of July and August , 2016 of local government staff and
primary school teachers .
NULGE maintained that they had made entreaties to the governor so that
the matter could be resolved amicably, but said all efforts had not
yielded any fruitful result.
“The union wish to inform your office of the threat to industrial
peace this action may lead to if not curtailed on time”, the letter
stated.
The NULGE leaders alleged further that “At the Joint Account
Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting of 2nd March, 2017, the issue of
payment of July and August salaries to LG workers and primary school
teachers generated crisis.
“This was as a result of the insistence of the LGs’ Council Chairmen
to divert the money totaling one million , four hundred million,
sixty six thousand , two hundred and seventy naira to settle their
furniture allowance, 2016 leave bonus and October 2016 salary.
“The union representative at the meeting (NULGE Deputy State
President) reminded the chairmen that it was the resolution of the
JAAC at its January meeting when the money was being stepped down to
pay it in February allocation. He advised the chairmen not to divert
the salary for it will affect the already distressed and depressed
workers.
“The resistance and agitation of the union forced the meeting to
adjourn leading to intervention of the governor who summoned a
meeting for Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Though the meeting did not hold,
but the governor directed the payment of July 2016 alone while the
balance of August be utilized for the payment of the chairmen
allowances and bonus.
“This was when workers are already owed arrears of eight month
salaries, 2015 , 2016 and balance of 2014 leave bonuses”;
The union said they could not comprehend the reason for the
governor’s action against the union , when “we have no issue
whatsoever with the government either real, perceived or
contemplated”.
NULGE said it has consistently appealed to members to show
understanding with government in spite of inability to pay salaries,
describing this action as unwarranted and needless.
