Following the official resumption of office on Wednesday by the reinstated local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has directed the immediate freezing of various council accounts.
The directive comes after last week’s ruling by the Court of Appeal in Akure, which overturned an earlier judgment by a lower court that had nullified the election of the local government officials and removed them from office approximately two and a half years ago.
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Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government, Abiodun Idowu, who is also the ALGON chairman, cautioned the state government and the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission to shelve the planned local government election, saying there’s no vacancy in any of the 30 councils to be filled on Saturday.
He affirmed the commitment of the chairmen to good governance at the grassroots, saying, “Having returned to office, we want to reaffirm our commitment to serving our people more and our social contract to create jobs and wealth for the teeming youths of the state will be implemented without compromise.
“All our chairmen will work assiduously to create value chains in the agricultural sector so that food security will be ensured in our state. We will devote attention to mechanised farming, so farmers across the state will have a new lease of life. We are aware of the shortage of teachers in our schools and health professionals in all our health centres and facilities. We declare to fill this shortage in no distant time.
“We have met as an association and concluded that the 1500 teachers and over 2000 health workers employed by the APC government of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola but who were sacked on assumption of office of Governor Ademola Adeleke will be reabsorbed into the system.
“Since their salaries and emoluments are statutorily charged from the Local Government Allocation, we hold that bringing them back on board to render essential services to the people of the state will not halt or hinder the progress of governance in the state.
“We know government exists because of the people, and it is our responsibility as leaders of governments at the local government to prioritise the welfare and well-being of the citizens. The modalities for the re-absorption of the 1,500 teachers and over 2,000 health workers will be communicated to the concerned employees in due course,” Idowu reaffirmed.
The ALGON chairman said the council chairmen and councillors were ready to work with the state government to collectively ensure the dividends of democracy for the people of the state.
Ìdòwú lamented the needless crisis that trailed the resumption on Monday just as he urged the security agencies not to relent on their oars to maintain law and order in the state.
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