Local government workers in Osun State have suspended their 11-month strike and will return to work on January 5, 2026.
The decision was announced on Monday by the Osun State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees, following a series of security meetings on the safety of workers at council secretariats.
The union’s president, Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, said the strike was called off after deliberations on guarantees for a peaceful and secure resumption of duties across the state.
Activities at local government secretariats had been shut down since February 17, 2025, when NULGE directed its members to withdraw their services over safety concerns linked to political tension at the grassroots.
The union said its members were forced to stay away from work to avoid becoming victims of a power tussle involving chairmen elected during the October 15, 2022 local government polls conducted under the administration of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the Peoples Democratic Party leadership over control of the councils.
Explaining the decision to resume, Ogungbangbe said security remained the union’s major concern.
“As you are aware, our members were asked to withdraw their services and embark on a sit-at-home action following the volatile security situation arising from the leadership tussle and rival political friction between PDP and APC over the control of Local Government Secretariats in Osun State,” he said.
“To safeguard the lives of our members, we had no choice but to vacate these premises. However, following internal deliberations, the union has resolved that its members shall resume work on Monday, January 5, 2026.”
He stressed that adequate security must be provided before workers return to their offices.
“To ensure this resumption does not lead to a breakdown of law and order or result in physical harm to our members, we formally request the deployment of sufficient security personnel to all 30 Local Government Councils, Area offices and LCDAs secretariats to forestall violence and provide a secure working environment,” Ogungbangbe added.
The union also raised concerns over the tenure of some council officials, noting that sacked APC chairmen had admitted before the Supreme Court that they were elected on October 15, 2022, for a three-year term that expired on October 30, 2025.
According to NULGE, the affected officials are now seeking tenure extension at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, describing their continued presence in council secretariats as illegal.
The union insisted that civil servants should not be exposed to danger in the course of their duties, adding that councils could function without elected chairmen.
Ogungbangbe said, “Local government councils can be effectively run by the Head of Local Administration, alongside directors of administration and finance, in line with the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025.”
NULGE warned that it would hold authorities responsible for any breakdown of law and order arising from failure to provide adequate security at council secretariats, stressing that security agencies had been duly informed ahead of the planned resumption.
