From Joe Effiong, Uyo
National secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has suspended six officers of the Akwa Ibom chapter of the union for anti-union activities.
The officers affected by the indefinite suspension order contained in a letter signed by the acting National Secretary, Mr. Chukwuemeka Aguonye, include Mrs Anestina Iweh, state deputy president; Mr. Owoanam Akpanwa, state trustee and Mr. Kingsley Akpan, state publicity secretary as well as branch chairmen, Mr. Imoh Udoeyop, Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government; Mr. Aniekan Ntia, Esit Eket Local Government and Mr. Monday Abak, Ukanafun Local Government Area.
Daily Sun, however, gathered that before the suspension order, the NULGE, had earlier queried the officials for allegedly flouting the National Executive Council’s (NEC) decisions and, colluding with the state government to victimise their state President, Mr. Martins Effiong.
The infighting in the state executive of the union has resulted in the alleged transfer of service of the state president to the state civil service, withholding of his salaries from February 2017 till date by the government, and alleged deductions of union dues by the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Valentine Attah.
The state Chairman of NLC, Mr. Etim Ukpong did not answer several calls to his phone line just as suspended Publicity Secretary of NULGE, Mr. Kingsley Akpan’s phone line could not be reached for reaction to the suspension order.