Osun NLC Orders Three-Day Sympathy Strike Over Withheld LG Allocations

The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed workers in Osun State to embark on a three-day sympathy strike beginning at midnight on Sunday to demand the release of statutory allocations due to local government areas in the state.

The directive was issued in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Osun, following the failure of the Federal Government and the state government to resolve concerns over the continued withholding of local government funds.

In a statement signed by the Osun NLC Chairman and Secretary, Christopher Arapasopo and Victor Amusan, respectively, and obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, the congress said it had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to both levels of government over the matter.

However, it said the issues raised in the ultimatum remained unresolved despite efforts to secure a resolution.

The statement said the decision to embark on the strike followed an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council held on October 28, 2026.

It read, “Consequently, having exhausted all reasonable avenues and in accordance with the resolutions reached at the emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) held on Wednesday, 28th October, 2026, all affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, are hereby directed to proceed on the three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State Council.

“The strike shall commence at midnight on Sunday, 8th November, 2026, last for three (3) days, and conclude at midnight on Wednesday, 11th November, 2026.

“Accordingly, all affiliate unions are directed to immediately communicate this directive in writing to their members and ensure total and full compliance across all workplaces.”

The congress warned that any affiliate union found deliberately undermining the directive would face disciplinary action in line with its provisions.

It urged workers to demonstrate unity and solidarity, describing the hardship confronting NULGE members as a collective concern of the labour movement.

“All unions are enjoined to demonstrate maximum solidarity, unity and commitment to the collective struggle for the protection of workers’ rights and welfare. We must emphasise that an injury to one is an injury to all,” the statement added.

“The continued hardship confronting our comrades in NULGE is a collective concern of the entire labour movement, and our response must reflect our shared commitment to workers’ rights, dignity, welfare and economic security.”

The dispute over local government allocations is part of a prolonged political conflict between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress over control of council administration, which intensified in February 2025.

During violence at several local government secretariats over control of the councils, the police confirmed six deaths, including that of Remi Abbas, the then APC-elected chairman of Irewole Local Government Area.