By: Opeyemi Abolarinwa, Osogbo.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local government councils in the state.
The Congress in a communique signed by the chairman of the state council, Christopher Arapasopo, warned that failure to address the issue within the stipulated period would result in a three-day sympathy strike and peaceful picketing of United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches across the state.
He expressed concern that the prolonged funding crisis had undermined the financial capacity of local government councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and fulfil their obligations to workers.
He noted that although Governor Ademola Adeleke had intervened by paying local government workers their net salaries without deductions, such intervention could not replace the regular release of statutory allocations due to the councils.
The communique reads in part, “The SEC-in-Session warns that failure by the relevant authorities to meet these demands within the stipulated seven-day ultimatum will leave the NLC, Osun State Council, with no alternative but to implement the lawful industrial actions directed by the SEC-in-Session, in solidarity with the affected Local Government workers.
“Such actions shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: A three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with NULGE, commencing at midnight on Sunday, 8th November, 2026 and ending at midnight on Wednesday, 11th November, 2026 in accordance with the directives of the SEC-in-Session and applicable labour laws.
“The commencement of peaceful picketing of UBA branches across Osun State from Thursday, 12th November, 2026 as part of the Congress’s lawful and collective efforts to demand an immediate end to the continued withholding and disputed disbursement of Local Government statutory allocations.
The SEC-in-Session emphasises that these proposed actions are not an expression of hostility towards the people of Osun State. Rather, they constitute a legitimate labour response to the prolonged hardship imposed on Local Government workers and the threat to their economic survival, dignity and welfare.
“Mobilisation is currently ongoing, with the support and solidarity of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), South-West Councils, to ensure the successful participation of workers and other concerned stakeholders in the planned picketing exercise. The Congress will not stand idly by while workers are denied the financial security and institutional protection necessary to sustain their livelihoods.
“The NLC, Osun State Council, remains committed to the defence of workers’ rights, the promotion of industrial peace and the protection of the interests of the working class. However, industrial peace cannot be sustained where injustice persists, workers’ welfare is undermined and legitimate entitlements remain uncertain.
“Accordingly, the SEC-in-Session calls on the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to act with urgency, responsibility and a clear sense of justice by resolving this crisis within the stipulated period.
“The Congress equally calls on all well-meaning stakeholders to support a lawful, transparent and enduring resolution that will restore normalcy to the Local Government system and alleviate the suffering of affected workers.”
