The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees has given the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, a 14-day ultimatum to constitute democratically elected councils at the grassroots.
The union, in a letter signed by its State Secretary, Bamidele Olaonipekun, also asked the governor to allow the existing Caretaker Committees to spend their three months in office, which would elapse by the first week of February.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government.
The letter read in part, “We write to remind the state government of the need to constitute elected Local Government Councils in the state.
“The 14-day ultimatum becomes imperative given the fact that the newly elected executive committee of NULGE in the state will not tolerate any further delay after the expiration of the three-month tenure of the caretaker committee.
“Consequently, we demand that the tenure of the caretaker committee should not be extended beyond the three months as stipulated in the State Local Government Laws.”
The letter added, “We demand that democratic structures should be put in place for elected council officials to run the affairs of the Local Governments before the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.”
The union lamented that Ogun State, despite being one of the frontline states in the country, still operates a caretaker committee system at the local level.
It said that the use of caretaker committees was an aberration, unconstitutional, and a mere aberration to shortchange the people at the grassroots.
When contacted on the telephone, the state Chairman of NULGE, Ayobami Ojugbele, confirmed the development, saying the union had already submitted the letter to the appropriate quarters.
“We have made our demand known to the state government. We are waiting for the governor to do the needful,” he said.
The state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, could not be reached for comments as calls to his mobile phone indicated it was switched off.
A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time of filing this report.
