Workers in Osun State have begun a three-day sympathy strike following a directive by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government areas.
The industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Sunday, November 8, is expected to affect workers across the state as organised labour demands the release of funds due to the councils.
The Osun State NLC Chairman and Secretary, Christopher Arapasopo and Victor Amusan, respectively, announced the strike in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday.
The union said the action was in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in the state after efforts to resolve the dispute with the Federal Government and the Osun State Government failed.
According to the statement, the NLC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to both governments over the continued withholding of local government allocations, but the issues remained unresolved.
Start tomorrow informed
Save your place for the morning brief. We’ll start emailing when delivery goes live.
Free. Confirm by email. Unsubscribe anytime.
The statement 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 congress said the strike would run from midnight on Sunday, November 8, until midnight on Wednesday, November 11, directing all affiliate unions to ensure full compliance across workplaces.
It warned that unions or members who deliberately undermined the directive would face disciplinary action in accordance with its provisions.
The labour body urged its affiliates to demonstrate unity, stressing that the difficulties facing local government workers were a collective concern of the entire 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 NLC said its intervention was necessary to protect the rights, dignity, welfare and economic security of local government employees.
The dispute over local government administration and statutory allocations in Osun has been linked to a prolonged political disagreement between the state government and the All Progressives Congress.
Recalled that the two sides had been embroiled in a dispute over control of the state's local government areas since February 2025.
The disagreement triggered violence at several council secretariats during the struggle for control of local government administration.
The police confirmed six deaths during the violence, including that of Remi Abbas, the then APC-elected chairman of Irewole Local Government Area.
Discussion0