Public Service Union Backs Osun NLC Strike Over Withheld LG Allocations

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side, has declared support for the three-day warning strike embarked upon by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government areas in the state.

The national leadership of the council described the industrial action as justified, warning that the withholding of the funds for about 21 months had inflicted severe economic hardship on local government workers and their dependants.

It urged the Federal Government to release the outstanding allocations immediately to prevent an escalation of the industrial dispute.

The council also warned that the continued withholding of the funds could undermine grassroots administration and worsen the economic difficulties facing workers across Osun State, stressing the need for urgent intervention to avert a total shutdown.

In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo, on behalf of the national leadership, the council said it had reviewed the circumstances surrounding the strike and considered the action justified.

The statement, signed under the chairmanship of Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto, said the dispute centred on the alleged withholding of statutory allocations due to local government areas in Osun State from February 2025 to November 2026.

“The National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), under the Chairmanship of Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni, has thrown its weight behind the current three days strike called by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC over the continued withheld of the Local government fund by the Federal Government.

“The JNPSNC reviewed all the circumstances surrounding the reason for the solidarity strike called by the Osun State Council of NLC, which was premised on the urgent need to release the withheld statutory allocation due to local government areas in the state since February 2025, that is now about 21 months of withholding the fund (from February 2025 to November 2026) and considered it as very justifiable,” the statement said.

The national body described the continued withholding of the allocations as an excessive use of political power, warning that the situation had negatively affected local government administration and the welfare of workers and their families.

It said the Federal Government should respond to the concerns of workers and release the funds without further delay to ease the hardship faced by local government employees and their dependants.

“The National leadership of JNPSNC considered the continued withheld of the Osun State local government fund by the Federal Government is not only excessive use of political power but also reckless without conscience, on account that the far reaching negative implications on the economic fortunes of the local government administration on one hand and the economic subjugation on the local government workers and their dependants on the hand is better imagined than experienced,” it added.

The council further expressed concern that the Federal Government and its agencies could allegedly use federal authority to undermine the effective administration of local governments, which it described as the closest tier of government to the people.

It called on the government to be sensitive to the plight of Osun workers and release the outstanding allocations to restore the financial capacity of local councils.

The JNPSNC also commended the Osun State NLC Chairman, Dr Christopher Arapasopo, the Trade Union Congress, the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council and other organised labour leaders in the state for what it described as responsible and coordinated leadership during the dispute.

The council warned that the three-day warning strike could escalate into a total strike or protest by workers across the state if the allocations remained withheld.

“From the look of things and the economic death sentence the local government workers in Osun State Council are passing through, the three-day warning strike may dovetail to total strike or protest by Osun State workers against the Federal Government if the non-release of withheld Osun State local government funds persists.

“A stitch in time will save nine,” the statement concluded.