Osun Council Workers Resume as Police Tighten Security Across LGAs

Security agencies across Osun State have intensified measures at local government secretariats ahead of the resumption of council workers today, Monday, following an eight-month strike.

The strike, which began on February 17, 2025, stemmed from a protracted leadership tussle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resulting in two rival sets of local government chairmen and councillors, popularly referred to as “Sit-at-Home” and “Yes-or-No” factions.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) initiated the industrial action after the Court of Appeal reinstated APC council chairmen—a move strongly opposed by the PDP. In response, the PDP-led state government conducted its own council elections on February 22, 2025, further deepening the crisis.

Council offices remained closed for months as political and legal battles over control of the state’s 30 local government areas and local council development areas raged on. The stalemate, however, shifted when the Federal Government reportedly recognised the APC-led executives by releasing six months of previously withheld allocations to their accounts.

Following the development, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers announced October 6 as the official resumption date, prompting the deployment of police and other security personnel to council premises to forestall potential clashes.

Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the heightened security measures. He said, “We won’t allow a repeat of the February 17 incident. Even before the release of funds, our men have been on alert, particularly at local government secretariats. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that law and order be strictly maintained.”