NULGE Must Return to Neutral Ground: Civil Servants Are Not Political Foot Soldiers

 

In a democratic society built on the rule of law, institutions function best when they respect boundaries, especially those between politics and public service. The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State must be reminded of this crucial principle, as recent actions suggest a troubling slide into open political partisanship.

NULGE is a body established to protect the welfare and working conditions of local government workers. It is not a political campaign organization. Its mandate is rooted in constitutional neutrality, especially because its members are civil servants, officers of the state who are required by law and ethics to maintain political impartiality in the course of their duties.

Unfortunately, the union’s recent actions, openly aligning with the Adeleke administration and engaging in politically motivated activities, violate both the Public Service Rules and the core values of professionalism. In a disturbing twist, NULGE is fast becoming a political choir echoing the songs of the ruling family at the expense of institutional integrity.

We must ask: when the Adeleke dynasty inevitably leaves office, perhaps as soon as November next year, what becomes of these partisan union leaders and their members who have thrown neutrality to the wind? What safety net exists for workers who have compromised their careers for fleeting political favors?

This is not a partisan criticism, but a civic intervention. Civil service, by design, must be immune to the ebb and flow of political power. When a union that ought to protect workers instead entangles itself in the messiness of politics, it puts its members at risk, especially when the political tides shift.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the national body of NULGE must call the Osun State chapter to order before further damage is done. Osun’s civil servants must understand that their loyalty is to the constitution, not to a politician or ruling clan.

Let the union return to its primary purpose, defending the rights of workers, not pledging allegiance to transient political families. Otherwise, the next administration may rightly view them as compromised actors, and the union’s influence could vanish with the exit of its current political patrons.

Civil servants are the engine of government, not the campaign machinery of politicians. It is time NULGE returned to the path of constitutional decency. History will not forget those who danced naked in the square when they should have stood guard at the gate of neutrality.

Signed:

Constituency office of Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Member Federal House of Representatives