Workers in Osun State have commenced a three-day warning strike following a directive by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government councils in the state.
The industrial action, which began at midnight on Sunday, November 8, is expected to end at midnight on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The strike was organised in solidarity with members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), who have been affected by the prolonged dispute over access to local government funds.
The Osun State Council of the NLC announced the directive in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, and Secretary, Victor Amusan.
According to the labour leaders, the decision followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to resolve the controversy surrounding the local government allocations.
The congress said the issues raised in the ultimatum remained unresolved despite efforts to secure an agreement between the relevant authorities.
Consequently, the NLC directed all affiliate unions across the state to participate in the three-day sympathy strike in support of local government workers.
The statement instructed affiliate unions to communicate the directive to their members in writing and ensure full compliance across their respective workplaces.
The congress also warned that any union found deliberately undermining the industrial action would face appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with its regulations.
The NLC maintained that the difficulties confronting local government workers should not be treated as an isolated concern of NULGE but as a collective responsibility of the entire labour movement.
It stressed that the welfare, dignity and economic security of workers must be protected, urging affiliate unions to demonstrate unity and solidarity throughout the industrial action.
The labour body also emphasised that the prolonged funding crisis had affected the financial capacity of local government councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and meet their obligations to employees.
Earlier, the NLC had expressed concern that the continued withholding of statutory allocations was worsening the hardship experienced by council workers.
The congress acknowledged the intervention of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had reportedly paid local government workers their net salaries without deductions.
However, it maintained that such intervention could not serve as a permanent substitute for the regular release of statutory allocations due to the councils.
The dispute is connected to the prolonged political and legal disagreement between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party over control of local government administration in Osun State.
The crisis has left statutory allocations meant for the councils inaccessible, further complicating the administration of local governments.
The latest strike is expected to increase pressure on the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to resolve the dispute and address workers’ concerns.
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