Crisis brews in Plateau NULGE over election, finance

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – The internal crisis rocking the Plateau State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE has deepened as a faction of the Union has accused the State leadership of high-handedness and demands financial accountability.

The faction also accused the leadership of manipulating the processes ahead of the Union’s election coming up this month, saying they reject any form of unconditional screening ahead of the exercise.

The Coordinator of the aggrieved group, Izere Igyem, and his members who addressed journalists in Jos, commended the national leadership of the Union for the intervention in the crisis but regretted that the incumbent State President, Yohanna Arandong, had violated the terms of reconciliation.

Igyem noted, “We gathered here today to address a pressing matter that threatens the very fabric of our union, NULGE. We appreciate the efforts of the NULGE National President and headquarters towards reconciliation in Plateau State.

“However, it is unfortunate that the incumbent President and his team have already violated the terms of this reconciliation, casting a dark shadow over the legitimacy of our union’s democratic processes.

“They have unilaterally shifted the branch elections to take place after the State Delegates Conference (SDC), a clear contravention of the agreed-upon reconciliation terms. This move is a naked attempt to manipulate the electoral process and maintain their grip on power.

“They have failed to set aside their manipulated selection of delegates, denying departments a democratic voice in the selection process. This undemocratic move perpetuates the incumbent President’s stranglehold on power, silencing the voices of members and undermining the union’s democratic foundations.”

He further stated, “They have violated the Constitution by submitting delegates for the SDC without a Congress meeting or democratic selection. This blatant disregard for our union’s governing document set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

“They have conducted an unconstitutional screening of candidates which is not part of our Union’s Constitution and was rightly not included in the electoral guidelines. This has never happened during any NULGE election in Plateau State, and we see this as a witch-hunt designed to give the incumbent President an unfair advantage.

“The disqualification of Comrade Ezekiel Yelwa on the same bases of other candidates who were deemed qualified by the screening committee set up by the President and his team who are also contestants is a clear example of this witch-hunt.”

On the finance of the Union, he stressed, “They have left members in the dark regarding their Federal Mortgage Bank deductions, hindering access to loans and perpetuating financial uncertainty.

“Our calculations reveal that approximately if ₦500 is deducted from 10,000 members times 12 months times 3 years of the administration, that would give us an approximation of ₦1.8 billion which has been deducted from our meagre salaries without transparency or accountability.”

The group, however, demanded that the branch elections must precede the State Delegates Conference, SDC, as has been the case to ensure a fair and democratic selection process.

They demanded that, “The State leadership must not honour the undemocratic selection of delegates, only branch chairmen be automatic delegates; secretaries must contest and win their spots democratically, to ensure a level playing field for all members.

“NULGE members must be clarified on the status of their Federal Mortgage Bank accounts and access to loans, ensuring transparency and accountability in our union’s financial dealings.”

Reacting, Arandong said the allegations are “baseless.”

He explained, “They wrote a petition through the right channel but when they were not satisfied with our response, they appealed to the National Secretariat.

“Some of their signatories and some from my side were summoned and we went. All those complaints were squarely addressed at the National office. The Committee disqualified Ezekiel Musa and two others based on the provision of the constitution.

“I have explained the Mortgage Bank issue, the money is deducted and remitted to the Bank. They should have come to us for an explanation.”

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