Three workers of local government in Osun State were on Monday arrested after allegedly stealing council properties at their respective council secretariats.
The workers were arrested in Boluwaduro and Egbedore local government council secretariats following the resumption of workers back to their duty posts.
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on behalf of ALGON chairman, Abiodun Idowu, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola said two persons were arrested in Boluwaduro council secretariat while one person was caught at Egbedore council secretariat.
His words, “as you already know that workers of NULGE extraction resumed work earlier today, two unfortunate incidents were recorded in Boluwaduro and Egbedore local government council secretariats.
“In Boluwaduro two persons were arrested while one person was arrested in Egbedore after forcing some offices opened and carried some documents and were arrested while trying to get away with it. They have been handed over to the police for necessary actions”.
However, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the State, Dr Christopher Arapasopo described the said arrest as an harassment of its members and threatened labour action if the situation is not halted.
Speaking at a programme in Osogbo after the said arrest, the NLC chairman berated the police for taking part in the said harassment and humiliation of the local government workers by some politicians.
“We have seen videos and pictures of our members being forced to kneel down. We condemn this conduct. We call on the police to release them. We declared our solidariry with our members. The police should stop being used by the APC on such illegal roles.
“ The APC is pushing to plunge Osun into crisis. They want to create mayhem. We will not help them to destroy our state. We will resist legally and lawfully. We are a pressure group.
“We warn the police not to harass our people. We will not tolerate ongoing harassment of our people at the local government level. The governor has done so much for labour and for Osun people”, he said
Reacting to the incident, a member of the House of Representatives, Rep.Bamidele Salam, has strongly condemned the harassment, unlawful detention, and public humiliation of a local government worker in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, describing the role of the Nigeria Police Force in the incident as shameful, despicable, and a gross violation of the Constitution.
In a statement issued on Monday, lawmaker accused certain politicians, allegedly acting with police backing, of abusing power and undermining the rule of law within local government administration in the state.
Rep. Salam detailed his findings on the incident and called for immediate corrective action by the Inspector General of police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, including the withdrawal of officers from what he described as illegal duties in Osun State local government secretariats.
According to the lawmaker, “I just watched a viral video and many photographs of Mr. Taiwo Adebayo, a local government worker in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State being humiliated by some politicians in the presence of the Divisional police officer of the local government, Mrs. Tawakalitu Ogunniyi and some of her personnel.
“I have made findings on the facts of the matter and confirmed that Mr Adebayo, an Admin staff of the Local Government was on lawful duty upon a directives by the NULGE for resumption of work after an 11 month strike
“Mr Adebayo was in possession of files relating to the retirement process of some local government staff who would soon be exiting service and needed to process their papers for payment of necessary benefits.
“Mr Adebayo acted with the instructions of his superior and was not in any way on an illegal assignment
“The politician who was seen in the video supervising the false detention interrogation and humiliation of the local government staff, is Mr Issa Akinwale, a man who had been sacked from the office of the Chairman of the local government by a judgement of the Federal High Court and the court of Appeal but who has like his other colleagues being occupying the council secretariat with active connivance of the police force.
“The dehumanising treatment of citizen Adebayo by the politician in the presence of law enforcement agents supervised by the Divisional Police officer in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State is despicable, condemnable and outrightly unconstitutional.
“I call for the immediate release of the staff as well the offering of due apologies to him by the Nigeria police force.
“I also call for an immediate cessation of the ongoing illegal, unlawful capture of local government administration in Osun state by politicians from the All Progressive Congress (APC) who are being backed in the usurpation of power and contempt of court by the Nigeria Police Force.
“I call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to uphold the rule of law by withdrawing his men from their current illegal duties in the local government secretariats of Osun State,” the lawmaker said.
Salam warned that continued police involvement in partisan political activities at the local government level poses a serious threat to democracy, judicial authority, and citizens’ rights.
He insisted that security agencies must remain neutral and uphold court judgments rather than aid their violation.
(Vanguard/Amiloaded)
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