Withheld LG Funds: Osun Workers Resume After Three-Day Warning Strike

Organised Labour in Osun State has directed workers across the state to resume duties following the conclusion of a three-day warning strike embarked upon in solidarity with local government employees over the continued withholding of statutory allocations.

The directive was contained in a joint statement signed by the state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Christopher Arapasopo; Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bimbo Fasaasi; and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Lekan Adediran.

The unions directed workers to return to their respective workplaces from midnight on Wednesday, November 11, following the completion of the industrial action.

They commended affiliate unions, workers and pensioners for their solidarity, cooperation and peaceful conduct throughout the strike, describing their participation as a demonstration of unity within the labour movement.

The three-day action, which began at midnight on Sunday, November 8, was called in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State.

The NLC had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government, demanding the resolution of the dispute surrounding statutory allocations due to the state’s 30 local government areas.

The union said the strike became necessary after its efforts to secure a resolution failed to produce concrete results. It also maintained that the prolonged funding dispute had worsened the hardship faced by local government workers.

The controversy is linked to the political and legal dispute over control of Osun’s local government councils following the February 2025 council elections and subsequent court decisions.

The Federal Government has continued to withhold the disputed allocations amid disagreements over the legitimacy of the council administrations entitled to receive the funds.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of NULGE has renewed its demand for the immediate release of the allocations. The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has also warned that the dispute could lead to a wider industrial action or mass protest if the funds remain withheld.

Although the resumption directive marks the end of the three-day warning strike, the underlying dispute remains unresolved, leaving the possibility of further labour action open.