Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti – In a move that has ignited widespread condemnation, the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has donated a staggering N10 million to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election campaign, raising serious questions about the priorities of both the union’s leadership and the governor himself.

The cheque was presented during a meeting with Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Local Government Administration, and Directors across Ekiti’s 16 Local Government Councils and 22 Local Council Development Areas at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, an event that critics are calling a blatant display of political sycophancy.

The donation, spearheaded by NULGE President Oluseyi Olatunde, has been framed by the union as a gesture of “unshaken confidence” in Oyebanji’s leadership.

However, this act is being slammed as a gross misuse of resources at a time when Ekiti’s local government workers and residents are grappling with economic challenges, including rising costs of living and inadequate public services.

Critics argue that the N10 million could have been better directed toward addressing pressing needs, such as improving working conditions for local government employees or funding community development projects that have long been neglected.

Governor Oyebanji, who has been touting his administration as a “golden era” for workers, is facing accusations of exploiting the loyalty of public servants for political gain.

The donation raises ethical concerns about whether the funds were voluntarily contributed by NULGE members or if undue pressure was applied to union leaders to curry favor with the governor.

Many are questioning how a union representing workers, some of whom struggle to make ends meet, could justify such a lavish contribution to a political campaign, especially when salary arrears and gratuity payments for retirees remain unresolved issues in many parts of the state.

“This is an insult to the people of Ekiti. While ordinary citizens are struggling to afford basic necessities, NULGE leaders are funneling millions into a campaign for a governor whose policies have yet to deliver transformative change. This smells like a desperate attempt to secure political patronage at the expense of workers’ welfare.”, said Tunde Fola, a local activist l.

The timing of the donation is particularly contentious, as it comes ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election, with Oyebanji’s administration already facing scrutiny over its handling of local government autonomy and development projects.

Despite claims of progress, such as the payment of a N70,000 minimum wage and the construction of an ultra-modern office complex, many Ekiti residents argue that these achievements are overshadowed by persistent infrastructural decay and uneven development across the state’s rural areas.

NULGE’s leadership, particularly Oluseyi Olatunde, has come under fire for what some describe as a betrayal of the union’s mandate to protect workers’ interests.

“The union should be advocating for better wages and working conditions, not bankrolling a politician’s ambition,” said Funmi Adeyemo, a local government employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“How was this money raised? Were workers coerced into contributing? These are questions NULGE must answer.”, Adeyemo queried

Oyebanji’s acceptance of the donation has further fueled accusations of opportunism. Rather than rejecting the funds and redirecting them toward public welfare, the governor expressed gratitude, promising to prioritize workers’ welfare and accelerate development.

Critics, however, view this as empty rhetoric, pointing to the growing disparity between the administration’s promises and the lived realities of Ekiti’s citizens.As the 2026 election looms, the N10 million donation risks alienating the very workers NULGE claims to represent, while casting a shadow over Oyebanji’s leadership.

For a state grappling with economic hardship, the decision to prioritize campaign funds over public welfare is being seen as a stark reminder of the disconnect between Ekiti’s political elite and its people.

The governor and NULGE’s leadership must now face the consequences of a move that many are calling tone-deaf and self-serving.