ABEOKUTA – The administrative heart of Ogun State is beating on life support as the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) issued a scathing ultimatum to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday.
Following an emergency State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on January 21, 2026, the union painted a grim picture of a “malfunctioning” third tier of government, strangled by state interference and systematic neglect. The message from the union is clear: Implement the Supreme Court’s autonomy ruling immediately or prepare for a total shutdown of the grassroots administration.
The Death of Grassroots Governance
In a communique signed by the State President, Comrade Adefesobi Adebayo (JP), NULGE accused the State Government of “undue interference” that has effectively crippled the 20 Local Governments. The union specifically cited the illegal takeover of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) items—including motor parks, garages, and tenement rates—as a direct violation of the 1999 Constitution.
“The Local Government is currently malfunctioning,” the communique stated. “The State Government has hijacked our revenue sources, leaving us unable to deliver even the most basic services to the people at the grassroots.”
A “State of Emergency” on Infrastructure
The union did not mince words regarding the physical decay of the Gateway State’s local council offices. NULGE has officially declared a State of Emergency on Local Government assets, describing the working conditions as “worrisome” and “unbearable.”
Reports from the SEC-in-Session reveal a shocking lack of basic tools:
• Vanishing Offices: Principal personnel are reportedly relying on “self-help” just to carry out official duties.
• Empty Desks: A total lack of computers, printing machines, and even chairs and tables has turned local council offices into ghost towns of productivity.
The Pension Betrayal
Adding fuel to the fire, NULGE expressed outrage over the government’s failure to honor the Memorandum of Action (MOA) signed on July 14, 2025, regarding the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). By reneging on this agreement, the union asserts that the State Government has “dashed the hopes” of thousands of retirees who served the state with merit.
The Ultimatum
NULGE’s demands are non-negotiable and carry the heavy weight of impending industrial unrest:
1. Full Autonomy Now: Immediate compliance with the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court judgment and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives on direct funding.
2. Wage Equity: The immediate placement of Heads of Local Government Administration on the Consolidated Salary Scale, matching the standards already set in Ondo and Osun States.
3. Withdrawal from Agreements: NULGE has signaled its intent to pull out of the CPS agreement in partnership with organized labor, a move that could trigger a wider statewide strike.
As of the time of this report, the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan has yet to issue an official response. However, with the SEC-in-Session resolving to take “necessary action,” the clock is ticking for the Abiodun administration to prevent a complete paralysis of the state’s local governance.
