The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ondo State branch inaugurated its new executives on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at a ceremony held at the NULGE Secretariat, Ilesha Garage, Akure, Ondo State. The ceremony was performed by the National President of NULGE, Comrade Hakeem Olatunji Ambali, who administered the oath of office to the new executives. The new executives, led by Comrade Frederick Akinrinlola, succeeded the outgoing executives, led by Comrade Bola Taiwo, who completed their four-year tenure.
In his farewell speech, Comrade Bola Taiwo paid a glowing tribute to the late governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON, who died on December 27, 2023. He thanked him for his love for the local government staff and his support for them. He also thanked the current governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his unflinching support for the local government system.
He used the opportunity to remind the people of his achievement in the office, cardinal among which is the peace within the union across the 18 local government areas of the State and expressed appreciation to the staff for cooperating with him and urged them to also cooperate with the incoming executives. He also admonished the incoming executives to cooperate among themselves and work for the progress of the union and the local government service.
In his acceptance speech, Comrade Akinrinlola Frederick thanked God for the opportunity to serve the union and the local government workers. He also thanked the National President of NULGE, Comrade Hakeem Olatunji Ambali, for his leadership and guidance. He thanked the outgoing executives, led by Comrade Bola Taiwo, for their selfless service and achievements. He also thanked the staff for their confidence and trust in him and his team. He promised to continue and improve on the legacy of the outgoing executives and to pursue the welfare and interests of the local government workers. He pledged to work harmoniously with the state government, the local government councils, and other stakeholders to ensure the development of the local government system.
The National President of NULGE, Comrade Hakeem Olatunji Ambali, charged the federal government to pay attention to the welfare of local government staff and to respect the autonomy and integrity of the local government system. He also thanked Governor Ayedatiwa for supporting the local government of Ondo State and for creating an enabling environment for the union to operate.
Comrade Olatunji Ambali praised Comrade Taiwo for his excellent leadership and encouraged the new executive committee to follow his example. He attributed the challenges faced by poor Nigerian masses to the poor economic policies of the government and emphasized the need for leaders to think creatively and bring relief to the suffering people.
He stated that the federal government should identify and license local modular refineries to improve fuel supply and reiterated the need to grant autonomy to local governments. He also spoke about creating a minimum of three CNG conversion centres per State so that people could take their cars for conversion to CNG engines as a more lasting way to cushion the effects of subsidy removal rather than purchasing CNG buses/cars.
He also commended the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for respecting the rule of law and not appointing caretaker chairmen who are not democratically elected to run the local government offices. He assured that local government workers would continue to support the administration in all possible ways to achieve its set goals.
The Governor of Ondo State, who was represented by Prince Segun Omojuwa, also used the occasion to commend Comrade Taiwo for his leadership, innovation, and lasting legacies.
Other highlights of the programme included the presentation of awards to deserving individuals including the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; NLC Deputy President; Ondo State Accountant-General Mrs. Toyin Oni and the Chairman of NULGE, Akure North LGA, Mr. Sanmi Alade.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, such as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, who represented the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Hamidu Takuro, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Ondo State, commissioners from the Local Government Service Commission, the Representative of the Accountant-General of Ondo State, the Deputy-Vice President of NLC, who is also the National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Sunday Adeleye; NULGE presidents from various states in Nigeria, the NLC Chairman Ondo State, the TUC Chairman Ondo State, the NCSU Chairman Ondo State, Permanent Secretaries and civil servants of repute, among others. They all congratulated the new executives and wished them a successful tenure.
The ceremony was a colourful and memorable one, as the staff sang, danced, and prayed for the new executives. The ceremony was also covered by some media outlets, who interviewed the new and outgoing executives. The ceremony marked the beginning of a new era for NULGE Ondo State and the local government service.