NULGE directs members to shun work, seeks probe of colleagues’ deaths

The Abia State chapter of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has directed its members at the Isiala Ngwa North Local Council to stop reporting to work until their safety and security are guaranteed.

The directive was sequel to the reported deaths of two staffers of the Council whose names were given as Onyemaechi Onyenro of Agriculture department and Amarachi Orioha of Administration department who were allegedly burnt to death within the Local premises during office hours on Wednesday 9th November 2016 by some suspected political thugs during the PDP Chairmanship primary election to select the party’s candidate for the scheduled 17 December 2016 local government election in the state.

One Florence Akwarandu, another staff of the Agriculture Department who was also reported to have sustained burns that were said to be life-threatening, have been hospitalised.

State NULGE Chairman, Ijoma Onyenaucheya who announced the stop work directive in Umuahia, the state capital, said: “NULGE condemns in strong terms the ugly incident” and consequently urged all relevant security agencies including the Abia State House of Assembly, to quickly set up an inquiry into the ugly incident towards ensuring that all those involved in the dastardly act including their sponsors are fished out and punished according to the laws of the land.”