By OLAJIDE IDOWU

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun has said that the call by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) for workers to resume work on Jan. 5, 2026, may lead to chaos.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by the state Chairman of ALGON, Mr Samuel Abiodun.

The statement was in reaction to a directive by the NULGE President, Mr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, asking local government workers to resume work at their respective local government areas.

Ogungbangbe had, on Feb. 17, directed local government workers to withdraw their services and embark on a sit-at-home action.

He said the directive was due to the volatile security situation arising from a leadership tussle and political rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the control of local government secretariats in the state.

Ogungbangbe, however, said that following internal deliberations, the union had resolved that its members should resume work on Jan. 5, 2026.

But the ALGON chairman urged security agencies in the state to hold Ogungbangbe responsible should there be any breach of peace or breakdown of law and order across the local government areas of the state.

Abiodun also urged NULGE executives to desist from any act capable of undermining the peace, unity and tranquillity the grassroots had been enjoying since the reinstatement of the APC council chairmen and councillors.

Abiodun described the NULGE president’s resumption announcement as a guise to perpetrate evil, cause chaos and unleash mayhem capable of jeopardising the atmosphere of peace in the council areas.

He urged all APC chairmen and other political functionaries to remain firm in taking full control of their councils until the final determination of their tenure by the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that local government areas in the state had been in crisis following the Feb. 10 judgement by the Court of Appeal, Akure.

PDP claimed that the judgment did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, while APC insisted on their return to office.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), thereafter, directed local government workers to withdraw their services from Feb. 17, citing security concerns. (NAN)