Comrade Babalola Adeyemi Rufus has been elected as the National Deputy President-General of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), a position that further solidifies his long-standing commitment to the union and its members.
The national elections took place at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters in Abuja.
In his appreciation message, Comrade Babalola expressed deep gratitude to the delegates who voted for him, as well as stakeholders from the Southwest, Oyo State, and beyond, for their unwavering support in ensuring the success of the electoral process. He emphasized that their trust in him was not taken for granted and assured them of his dedication to serving the union with integrity and diligence.
The National Deputy President-General pledged to work closely with his boss, Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara, the National President-General of NULGE, in advancing the interests of local government employees across the country. He stressed the need for unity and collective effort in addressing the challenges facing NULGE members, particularly in the areas of welfare, job security, and improved working conditions.
His journey in unionism began at the grassroots level, where he served as the Branch Secretary of NULGE at Iseyin Local Government, Oyo State. He was the pioneer secretary of the Oke Ogun NULGE Forum in 2000. His dedication and service at both local and zonal levels earned him recognition, leading to his election as Treasurer of Oyo State NULGE, a role he held for eight years. He later became the Chairman of the Oyo State NULGE Caretaker Committee, where he played a key role in stabilizing and repositioning the union in the state.
Until he was elected National Deputy President-General, he also served as the National Young Workers’ Representative, advocating for the interests of young members within the union. In this role, he contributed significantly to the advancement of young workers, particularly through key initiatives. Among his notable achievements were organizing the first-of-its-kind National Youth Conference at *Premier Hotel Ibadan in 2021 and the *National Youth Conference in Edo, held in Benin City in 2024*. He was also actively involved in various *National NULGE committees in Abuja, where he played a strategic role in shaping policies that benefit union members.
With his wealth of experience and deep-rooted commitment to the cause of NULGE, Babalola’s election has been met with optimism by members who believe he will bring fresh energy and purposeful leadership to the union. He assured members that his tenure would focus on policies and initiatives that uplift the welfare of local government employees and strengthen the union at all levels.
As he assumed his new role, Babalola called on all NULGE members to work together in unity, emphasizing that collective effort and unwavering commitment are crucial in achieving the union’s objectives.
