NULGE crisis: Ekiti sets up fact-finding committee

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has set up a five-man committee to provide a lasting solution to the crisis rocking the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)

The Committee which is headed by the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Chief S.A Abejide, is to advise the government on how to resolve the succession crisis rocking the union.

Other members of the committee are the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Prof Adio Folayan, Chairman of NULGE, Comrade Ona Ade, and the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mr Mayowa Oyedeji.

The Committee which is expected to submit its report within a week, according to the Governor, is to undertake a holistic approach to harmonize all the stakeholders within the NULGE and its environs, with specific attention to remote causes of the crisis and advise the government on how best to tackle it.

Governor Fayemi disclosed this during a meeting with the Chairmen, Directors of Administration and Finance of the 16 local government councils in the State.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Honourable Biodun Omoleye, said Industrial matters are of serious concern to every government adding that no government would sit down and allow labour matters degenerate and discredit the government.

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He said, “The government is constantly faced with diverse challenges and it comes in different forms but of great concern is the frequency of security report coming to the government about the possibility of a looming crisis that could distort the industrial harmony at the local government.”

Government, he said, was bound to take necessary precautionary measure to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

The Governor, advised the leadership of NULGE, to live up to its responsibilities by making move to harmonize the different groups in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

“The current trend is unfortunate and should be stopped, local government is supposed to be the closest to our people and should be a point of reference,” he said

The governor also admonished council Chairmen to take full charge of activities in their respective local government and ensure that law and order are maintained.

He maintained that in the interim no election would be conducted at the local government union until the committee submitted its report and government issue a position paper on it.