- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Christopher Arapasopo, of compromise and spread of false allegations against the party.
Arapasopo had reportedly accused the APC of being after his life over the lingering seven months strike of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun state.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC described the NLC Chairman’s allegation as a hoax designed for continued manipulation and exploitation of his alleged sponsor, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The party accused Arapasopo of living reckless lifestyle in hotels and night clubs amid the ongoing strike action in local governments across the state.
“We were vindicated that Arapasopo did not deny the fact that he has been frolicking in the company of women of easy virtues, patronising hotels and eateries amidst gun-wielding Amotekun corps under the guise of security threat while the striking workers in the local government council areas in the state are undergoing the hellish period of their lives.
“We hold that the latest falsehood by the scavenging labour leader is a hoax designed for continued manipulation and exploitation of his sponsor in order to sustain his reckless lifestyle in hotels and night clubs.
“One thing that cannot be taken away from the history of the state is the ignominious role, disheartening and untoward complicity of Arapasopo in the ongoing industrial logjam in the local government councils across the state.” the statement partly read.
The APC further hinted the consequences of the lingering crisis which include the council workers’ inability to access their cooperative fund and the non-payment of traditional rulers statutory monthly allocation.
“The political scoundrel in the civil servant garb cannot pretend not to know that all the council workers are suffering today because many of them could not access their cooperative fund and other emoluments.
“Is Arapasopo aware that it is his conduct and posture to the needless strike that has been the reason why our revered traditional rulers in the state have not been able to access their monthly statutory allocations in the various councils as it is the councils’ staff that prepare such monies?
“If the reason being bandied by Arapasopo for preventing the NULGE from resumption is that of security of their lives, why hasn’t he considered it appropriate for the state workers too to proceed on strike?
“It is inhuman, unpatriotic and grossly callous for Arapasopo not to take cognizance of the fact that local government workers are tired of staying at home and would like to resume to their duty stations as they do not want to continue to be pawns in the hands of political charlatans controlling their affairs.” Olabisi wrote.
The APC spokesperson further recounted how former Governos of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, who Arapasopo was alleged to now disparage, supported the NLC Chairman with sponsorship of civil service day for four years.
Arapasopo was also allegedly sponsored by Oyetola to Joint Public Negotiating Council meetings across the 36 states of the Federation and donation of a car gift.
The APC further called out the state government over the spending of the 2025 budget, especially allocations for Local Training, Contributory Pension, and Gratuity Arrears.
It also expressed concern over the fresh strike by the judiciary workers in the state.
These, according to the party, are germane issues that should attract the attention of a genuine Arapasopo.
“In the 2025 budget, the state government estimates to spend N2.4 billion on Local Training, out of which N1.3 billion had already been drawn as at the end of June.
“Despite the huge withdrawal, training expenses of civil servants have not been cash-backed. Only 14.3 per cent of the estimate for Contributory Pension has been remitted. No Kobo has been spent on Group Life Insurance for workers.
“Despite the media noise of the state government on payment of pension and gratuity, no Kobo has been remitted out of the N6 billion budgeted for gratuity arrears.
“The judiciary workers have now embarked on strike over poor welfare.
“The Osun NLC leader, Christopher Arapasopo, should prioritise the welfare of the mass of workers whose economic situation has deteriorated under the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke.” The statement added.