Osun ALGON Disowns ‘Yes/No Chairmen’, Rejects Purported NURTW Suspension Ord
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has disowned a directive purportedly suspending the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, declaring the action illegal, unconstitutional and without any legal backing.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Chairman, Otunba Sarafadeen Abiodun Awotunde, the association accused individuals allegedly occupying local government council secretariats of falsely presenting themselves as the leadership of Osun ALGON and issuing directives outside their constitutional powers.
Awotunde described the individuals as “Yes/No Chairmen,” insisting that they lacked the legal authority to act on behalf of local governments or suspend the activities of any trade union operating in the state.
“The attention of the authentic Osun ALGON under my leadership has been drawn to the activities of individuals parading themselves as Osun ALGON. These political actors, who are illegally occupying council secretariats, have no lawful tenure or constitutional powers to issue directives on behalf of local governments,” he said.
According to him, the regulation and administration of the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers fall within the statutory responsibilities of the Osun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not local government chairmen.
“The so-called ‘Yes/No Chairmen’ have no constitutional authority to suspend the activities of any trade union operating within Osun State,” Awotunde stated.
He urged transport operators, NURTW members and the general public to disregard the purported suspension order and continue their lawful activities without fear or intimidation.
Awotunde also called on security agencies to disregard the directive and uphold the rule of law by protecting legitimate union activities across the state.
He further urged the agencies to take appropriate steps to address what he described as the unlawful occupation of local government council secretariats.
Reaffirming the position of the association, Awotunde said the authentic Osun ALGON remained committed to due process, constitutional governance, peace and the rule of law across the 30 local government areas and the Area Office in the state.