Local government workers in Osun State have refused to resume work, maintaining that only directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Union of Local Government Employees can determine their return.
The workers have been on strike since February 16, following orders from the leadership of NULGE and the NLC.
The directive came amid security concerns linked to a legal tussle over the enforcement of a Court of Appeal judgment in Akure involving sacked local government officials.
The affected officials—elected under the All Progressives Congress during the October 15, 2022, council polls—claimed that the appellate court overturned a previous ruling that removed them from office.
However, the Osun State Government countered their claim, stating that the court did not issue a consequential order for their reinstatement.
Some local government workers, speaking anonymously, indicated that their priorities were their February salary and the upcoming NULGE state election.
According to the PUNCH, a staff member at Boripe Local Government in Iragbiji, identified as Isiaq, stated, “No one has asked us to resume yet, and it is not a priority. People fear that the ongoing crisis may affect our salary. We are still waiting for our February salary, and with the NULGE state election this week, those are our main concerns.”*
Similarly, an Osogbo Local Government NULGE official, Teju, reiterated that only the union leadership could call them back to work.
“They should pay our salary first. People are worried that the crisis in the councils might affect our payments,”he said.
Workers from Ejigbo, Egbedore, and Osogbo councils echoed the same sentiment, stating that until they received new directives from the NLC or NULGE, they would remain at home.
“We were told by NULGE and NLC to remain at home, and we haven’t received a new directive. For now, we are waiting for our February salary. We are also observing Ramadan and need our pay,” a worker added.
In response, Abiodun Idowu, leader of the APC-elected local government chairmen, urged the workers to resume, assuring them of their safety.
“We appeal to them to return so we can deliver on our mandate. They are not supposed to be partisan. Work must continue, and I assure them that their security is guaranteed. Council areas across the state are safe,”Idowu stated.
Efforts to reach Osun NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered, and he had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report.
