By John Dike Osogbo
…Threatens sympathy strike, picketing of UBA branches over withheld funds
Organised Labour in Osun State has thrown its weight behind the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government councils in the state.
The Joint Labour Movements, comprising the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), described the prolonged withholding of the funds as an injustice against local government workers and residents, warning that the situation had deepened hardship at the grassroots.
In a joint statement issued in Osogbo on Monday, the state chairmen of the three organisations, Comrades Christopher Arapasopo (NLC), Bimbo Fasaasi (TUC) and Lekan Adediran (JNC), condemned the continued denial of statutory allocations to the councils.
The unions expressed concern over the economic hardship being experienced by local government employees and other residents, particularly vulnerable members of the population, insisting that workers should not suffer the consequences of political disagreements and institutional power struggles.
“We consider the prolonged withholding of these funds since February 2025 a grave injustice against Local Government workers and a direct assault on their economic security, welfare, dignity and fundamental rights,” the statement said.
Organised Labour maintained that the welfare and entitlements of workers should not be sacrificed on the altar of political or administrative disputes.
While acknowledging the intervention of the Osun State Government in ensuring the payment of workers’ net salaries, the unions stressed that salary payments alone could not address the wider consequences of the prolonged financial crisis.
They explained that the disruption had affected allowances, cooperative deductions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements of local government employees.
Consequently, the labour movements declared their full support for the seven-day ultimatum issued by the NLC Osun State Council, urging the Federal Government and the state government to urgently meet the demands contained in the congress’s communiqué.
The unions also endorsed the planned three-day sympathy strike scheduled for November 8 to 11, 2026, and the proposed peaceful picketing of United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches across the state from November 12 if the dispute remained unresolved.
They described the planned industrial actions as legitimate expressions of workers’ collective resistance against injustice and a necessary step towards protecting the livelihoods, rights and future of local government employees.
“Organised Labour will not fold its arms while the welfare and survival of its members are subjected to prolonged uncertainty and avoidable hardship,” the statement added.
The labour movements called on their affiliates, workers and other well-meaning stakeholders to remain united, vigilant and steadfast in solidarity with affected local government employees.
They further urged the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to demonstrate the political will to resolve the impasse without further delay.
Reaffirming their commitment to the welfare of the affected workers, the unions declared that “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
