Labour tension rose in Osun State on Monday following the arrest of three local government workers over alleged theft of council property, an action the Nigeria Labour Congress described as harassment and intimidation of its members.
The workers were arrested at the Boluwaduro and Egbedore local government council secretariats shortly after employees resumed duties across the councils.
Two of the workers were picked up in Boluwaduro, while one was arrested at the Egbedore council secretariat.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on behalf of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Abiodun Idowu, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, confirmed the arrests.
Ogunsola said the suspects were apprehended after allegedly forcing open offices and attempting to cart away documents belonging to the councils.
“As you already know, workers of NULGE extraction resumed work earlier today, and two unfortunate incidents were recorded in Boluwaduro and Egbedore local government council secretariats,” he said.
“In Boluwaduro, two persons were arrested, while one person was arrested in Egbedore after forcing some offices open and carrying some documents.”
“They were arrested while trying to get away with it and have been handed over to the police for necessary actions.”
However, the Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Christopher Arapasopo, strongly condemned the arrests, describing them as an act of harassment and humiliation of local government workers.
Speaking at a programme in Osogbo after the incident, Arapasopo accused the police of being used by politicians to intimidate workers and warned that labour would not hesitate to take action if the situation continued.
“We have seen videos and pictures of our members being forced to kneel down. We condemn this conduct. We call on the police to release them. We declare our solidarity with our members,” he said.
“The police should stop being used by the APC on such illegal roles. The APC is pushing to plunge Osun into crisis. They want to create mayhem. We will not help them to destroy our state. We will resist legally and lawfully. We are a pressure group.”
He further warned against continued harassment of local government workers, stressing that labour would not tolerate intimidation at the council level.
“We warn the police not to harass our people. We will not tolerate the ongoing harassment of our people at the local government level. The governor has done so much for labour and for Osun people,” Arapasopo added.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement on the arrests.
