Osun Workers Begin Three-Day Strike Over Withheld Council Allocations

Workers across Osun State have begun a three-day strike following a directive by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in protest against the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local government councils.

The industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Sunday, is also aimed at supporting the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in its dispute over the council funds.

The Osun NLC Chairman and Secretary, Christopher Arapasopo and Victor Amusan, announced the strike in a joint statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday.

They explained that the congress had earlier given the Federal Government and the Osun State Government a seven-day ultimatum to address the withholding of the local government allocations.

However, the two governments failed to resolve the issues within the stipulated period, leaving the labour movement with no option but to proceed with the planned action.

The NLC leaders said the decision followed resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council on October 28, 2026.

They directed all affiliate unions to observe the strike for three days, ending at midnight on Wednesday, November 11.

The congress also instructed the unions to communicate the directive to their members in writing and ensure full compliance across all workplaces in the state.

It warned that any affiliate union that deliberately undermined the industrial action would face disciplinary measures in line with its regulations.

The labour body urged workers to demonstrate unity and solidarity, describing the difficulties confronting local government employees as a concern for the entire labour movement.

It stressed that the action was necessary to defend workers’ rights, dignity, welfare and economic security, adding that an injury to one worker amounted to an injury to all.

Meanwhile, the dispute over control of local government administration in Osun has remained a major source of political tension between the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) since February 2025.

The disagreement has triggered confrontations over the control of council secretariats, with violence erupting in several local government areas.

The police confirmed six deaths during the clashes, including that of Remi Abbas, the then APC-elected chairman of Irewole Local Government Area.