By John Dike Osogbo
Union cites withholding of LG allocations since February 2025, warns members against partial compliance
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, has directed its affiliate unions across the state to embark on a three-day warning strike in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for the state’s 30 local government areas.
The industrial action, scheduled to commence at midnight on Sunday, November 8, 2026, is expected to affect local government workers across the state, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government over the unresolved dispute surrounding local government funds.
As part of efforts to ensure total compliance, NULGE, Osun State chapter, has issued a separate directive to its members, particularly workers in Primary Health Care facilities, ordering them to stay away from work throughout the three-day strike.
In a notice circulated to local government workers, the union directed that no primary healthcare facility in any of the 30 local government areas should be opened during the period of the industrial action.
It also instructed healthcare workers to withdraw their services completely, ruling out skeletal operations, partial compliance or any arrangement that would allow the facilities to continue operating during the strike.
The directive comes amid growing tension within the local government workforce over what the union described as the continued illegal withholding of statutory allocations meant for the councils since February 2025.
In a statement signed by the NLC State Chairperson, Christopher Arapasopo, and Secretary, Victor Amusan, the Congress said the decision to commence the strike followed the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government.
The labour body said the issues raised in the ultimatum remained unresolved despite the expiration of the deadline, leaving the Congress with no option but to proceed with the industrial action in accordance with the resolutions of its State Executive Council (SEC).
The statement partly read, “Following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and Osun State Government over the continued withholding of Local Government statutory allocations, the Congress regrets to inform all affiliate unions that the issues raised remain unresolved.”
The NLC explained that the decision was in line with resolutions reached at its emergency SEC meeting held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during which the Congress considered the situation confronting local government workers and resolved to mobilise its affiliate unions in support of NULGE.
It subsequently directed all affiliate unions in Osun State to communicate the decision to their members in writing and ensure full compliance across their respective workplaces.
The Congress also warned that any affiliate union found deliberately working against or undermining the strike directive would face appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with its regulations.
According to the labour organisation, the struggle over local government allocations should not be regarded as the concern of NULGE alone but as a collective responsibility of the entire labour movement.
It maintained that the continued hardship allegedly being experienced by local government workers was an issue affecting workers’ rights, dignity, welfare and economic security.
The Congress declared that the solidarity action was necessary to demonstrate the unity of organised labour and press home its demand for the resolution of the dispute.
Meanwhile, NULGE, in its notice to local government workers, said the three-day warning strike was intended to compel the authorities concerned to address the financial challenges confronting the local government system.
The union identified the immediate release of all outstanding statutory allocations due to the 30 local government areas as its foremost demand.
It also called for the decongestion of payments into local government accounts, protection of workers’ rights and entitlements, as well as adequate regulation of local government finances.
NULGE argued that the alleged withholding of the allocations since February 2025 had affected grassroots development and subjected workers in the local government service to untold hardship.
The union expressed concern that the situation had continued to undermine the financial stability of local government administration and the welfare of employees who depend on the councils for their livelihood.
Particular emphasis was placed on primary healthcare workers, with NULGE insisting that all its members in local government health facilities must participate fully in the industrial action.
The notice stated that no primary healthcare facility in any local government area should be opened during the three-day period.
It further directed members to stay away from their duty posts, warning against the provision of skeletal services or any form of partial compliance.
“All our members should stay off duty completely for the three days. No skeletal service, no excuse, no partial compliance,” the notice stated.
The union urged its members to remain united and committed to the struggle, describing the action as a collective effort to protect their salaries, welfare, entitlements and the future of the local government service.
It warned that members who failed to comply with the directive could face consequences, insisting that the decision must be obeyed.
The NULGE leadership appealed to workers not to undermine the solidarity action, stressing that the continued financial difficulties confronting local government employees required a united response from organised labour.
The latest development represents an escalation of the dispute between organised labour and the authorities over the administration and release of local government statutory funds in Osun State.
With the NLC directing its affiliate unions to join the warning strike and NULGE insisting on the closure of primary healthcare facilities, the action is expected to draw attention to the lingering disagreement over local government finances and the welfare of council employees.
However, the position of the Federal Government and the Osun State Government on the latest strike notice and the allegations contained in the union’s communication was not stated in the announcements.
The three-day action is expected to provide another test of organised labour’s efforts to secure the release of the disputed allocations and obtain assurances on the financial autonomy, administration and welfare responsibilities of local governments in the state.
