Dissolution of Councils, Mimiko appeals to council workers to resume

The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has appealed to the workers of the local government councils who have refused to resume work based on perceived insecurity occasioned by the forceful take-over of the council secretariats by sacked council bosses in the State to resume work immediately.

According to a release made available to newsmen in Akure on Monday and signed by Dr Mimiko’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, the Governor noted that since last week’s ruling by Justice Nelson Adeyanju of the Akure High Court which restrained the sacked council officials from coming anywhere near the council secretariats as well as prohibiting them from parading themselves as council chairmen and legislators, the workers should now rescind their earlier decision to shun their duties and go back to their jobs in the interest of the State.

The Governor, however, assured the workers that government would ensure the provision of adequate security for them in their various offices as the law enforcements agencies have been asked to ensure that nothing untoward happen to them in the various council secretariats.

Further, Dr Mimiko disclosed that Directors of Local Government Administrations have been asked to take effective charge in their respective local government councils and to ensure that work commences immediately as well as to ensure that workers’ welfare is made paramount.

“We want to salute our workers for their courage and understanding while the face-off lasted and we assure you that nothing untoward will happen to you as adequate security has been put in place for you all. Therefore, you are all enjoined to go back to your duty posts immediately so that we can cover lost grounds and bring development to our dear State soonest,” Mimiko stated.

Following the dissolution of the executive and legislative arms of the 18 local government councils in the State by the Governor on March 4 who cited the fact that the purported election that ushered them in on December 15, 2007 was illegal due a court injunction as well as several pending litigations, and the subsequent forceful take over of the Councils secretariats by the sacked council officials in support of security personnel, council workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees (NULGE) directed its members to stay away from work due to what it termed “unfavourable security its lives of its member.”

Indeed, the NULGE Caretaker Chairman in the State, Comrade Joshua Maigida Irapakob had several times through releases ordered the workers to stay away from work until the situation becomes normalized.