The National Union of Local Government Employees’ former executive members have died as a result of the five-month crisis that shook the union’s leadership in Abia State.
Comrades Ikechi Nwaigwe and Abayomi Afolabi, who were chosen in May 2023 to serve as the President and Secretary of NULGE, are already suffering from the challenges.
The former Secretary of the Union, Afolabi, has been suspended by members for allegedly acting against the interests of the union, while Nwaigwe reportedly received a posting to a government ministry in the State.
In order to achieve this, a new caretaker leadership has been installed in the State to manage NULGE’s business for around two weeks before a fresh election of executive members is held.
Comrade Obinna Nwogu is one of the leaders who makes up the Caretaker leadership.
Comrade Ijeoma Onyenucheya, a former union leader who recently inaugurated the caretaker leadership in Umuahia, gave the NULGE caretaker leaders the responsibility of holding a free and fair election while asking local government workers in the State to choose deserving candidates to lead them.
Following their election in May, Nwaigwe and Afolabi have been dealing with a number of issues due to the formation of a factional leadership that claimed to be the real executive.
Each party asserting to have won the May 2023 election produced a number of statements, counter-announcements, and other press releases.
The National Leadership of NULGE announced in August that it had fired two union executives from Abia, Kenneth Nwasuka and Ikechuckwu Uko, for allegedly acting against NULGE’s interests in Abia.
The expulsion was subsequently signed on July 21, 2023, by Comrade Isa Gambo, NULGE National Secretary.
However, a member of the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Umuahia who spoke about the issues cleared the current Abia State Government of any responsibility by asserting that the crises began before it took office.
However, a member of the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Umuahia who spoke about the issues cleared the current Abia State Government of any responsibility by asserting that the crises began before it took office.
The personnel of the ministry claimed it was incorrect to link the union crises to Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
However, PDP members who are in the opposition claim that Otti’s administration has taken over the operations of the local government in Abia.
In addition, Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji, the National President of NULGE, claimed in late September that the Governor was meddling in the NULGE’s operations in Abia.
He made this statement in Akure at Comrade Frederick Akinrinlola’s inauguration as the NULGE President of Ondo State.