NULGE STRIKE: *You’re A Sell Out To Adeleke, Fabricating Spurious Allegations Against Osun APC*
– Opposition Knocks Arapasopo, State NLC Chairma
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the compromised chairman of the state Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, of spreading fabricated and false information that the opposition APC has been after his life over the lingering needless sympathy strike for the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration by the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) for seven months running.
We were vindicated that Arapasopo did not deny the fact that he has been frolicking in the company of women of easy virtues, patronising hotels and eateries amidst gun-wielding Amotekun corps under the guise of security threat while the striking workers in the local government council areas in the state are undergoing the hellish period of their lives.
We hold that the latest falsehood by the scavenging labour leader is a hoax designed for continued manipulation and exploitation of his sponsor in order to sustain his reckless lifestyle in hotels and night clubs.
One thing that cannot be taken away from the history of the state is the ignominious role, disheartening and untoward complicity of Arapasopo in the ongoing industrial logjam in the local government councils across the state.
The political scoundrel in the civil servant garb cannot pretend not to know that all the council workers are suffering today because many of them could not access their cooperative fund and other emoluments.
Is Arapasopo aware that it is his conduct and posture to the needless strike that has been the reason why our revered traditional rulers in the state have not been able to access their monthly statutory allocations in the various councils as it is the councils’ staff that prepare such monies?
If the reason being bandied by Arapasopo for preventing the NULGE from resumption is that of security of their lives, why hasn’t he considered it appropriate for the state workers too to proceed on strike?
It is inhuman, unpatriotic and grossly callous for Arapasopo not to take cognizance of the fact that local government workers are tired of staying at home and would like to resume to their duty stations as they do not want to continue to be pawns in the hands of political charlatans controlling their affairs.
Despite the fact that Arapasopo went to a great length to disparage the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola in his statement, the fact remains what it is: the savage ingrate as Chairman of Nigeria Civil Service Union, an Affiliate of Trade Union Congress, benefitted tremendously from the support extended to his union by the Oyetola government, particularly the sponsorship of civil service day for four years, sponsoring him to Joint Public Negotiating Council meetings across the 36 states of the Federation and donation of a car gift.
In the 2025 budget, the state government estimates to spend N2.4 billion on Local Training, out of which N1.3 billion had already been drawn as at the end of June.
Despite the huge withdrawal, training expenses of civil servants have not been cash-backed. Only 14.3 per cent of the estimate for Contributory Pension has been remitted. No Kobo has been spent on Group Life Insurance for workers.
Despite the media noise of the state government on payment of pension and gratuity, no Kobo has been remitted out of the N6 billion budgeted for gratuity arrears.
The judiciary workers have now embarked on strike over poor welfare. These are germane issues that should attract the attention of a genuine labour leader, not serving as a mouth-piece of the state government for selfish interest as Arapasopo has come to be known for.
The Osun NLC leader, Christopher Arapasopo, should prioritise the welfare of the mass of workers whose economic situation has deteriorated under the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke.
What would become of his life after November 27, 2026, when Adeleke is sent packing through the votes of Osun people? This question should bother the labour turncoat who feeds fat on the misfortune of the workforce he ought to be leading and protecting their interest.
e-SIGNED:
*Mogaji KOLA OLABISI, Director of Media and* *Information*
*Osun State APC*
