The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Rivers State has declared a seven-day warning strike over the alleged non-payment of salaries of more than 500 workers in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The affected workers had last week staged a protest at the Emuoha council secretariat, accusing council chairman Dr. Chidi Lloyd of removing their names from the payroll. They alleged the move denied them their salaries and described it as an illegal dismissal.
Following the protest, the matter was reported to the state leadership of NULGE, which resolved to take action.
In a statement on Monday, the Rivers State NULGE President, Sunday Adeniran, directed all its members across the 23 LGAs in the state to begin strike action from Tuesday, October 1.
“The State leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Rivers State Chapter, hereby notifies you that the State Executive Council of the union at its meeting held on 29th September, 2025, resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike.
“Accordingly, effective from midnight of 30th September, 2025, all local government employees across the state are hereby directed to withdraw their services until further notice.
“This action has become necessary in view of the callous and unfair action of the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area in denying our members their salaries. We count on your cooperation and solidarity in ensuring full compliance with this directive,” Adeniran said.
But in a swift reaction, Emuoha chairman, Dr. Lloyd, dismissed the allegations, insisting that all genuine staff of the council had been paid.
“They (NULGE) are complaining about people whose names were smuggled into the payroll,” Lloyd said. “In 2024, the staff strength was about 1,000 and some fractions, but when we came back, the staff strength had jumped to 1,600—and there was no employment.”
The strike is expected to affect activities across all 23 LGAs of the state until further notice.
