LG Crisis: Osun Workers’ Support For Tinubu Not Guaranteed, Labour Declares

The Organised Labour in Osun State has warned that President Bola Tinubu may not enjoy the automatic support of workers and pensioners in the state in the 2027 general election, citing the continued withholding of local government statutory allocations.

The labour movement said the welfare of workers, pensioners and their families would determine its political disposition, insisting that it could no longer remain indifferent to the hardship allegedly caused by the local government financial crisis.

The Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, stated this on Monday while reading a press conference address on behalf of Organised Labour following the expiration of its seven-day ultimatum to the Federal and Osun State governments.

The declaration represents a fresh political dimension to the lingering local government allocation dispute, which has continued to generate tension between labour unions and relevant authorities.

In the statement, the labour movement said it could not guarantee the votes of its members and their families for Tinubu’s re-election if the situation affecting local government workers and pensioners remained unresolved.

“For now, the Organised Labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” it said.

The union attributed its position to the continued withholding of local government allocations and the resulting hardship on workers and their dependants.

“We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering!” the statement added.

Organised Labour also acknowledged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition but maintained that workers’ welfare must remain its priority.

It said the political preferences of individuals should not override the collective interests of workers and pensioners.

According to the statement, the labour movement’s loyalty was first and foremost to the working class and the people it represented.

“Workers’ support is neither automatic nor unconditional; it must be earned through policies and actions that protect their welfare and dignity,” it declared.

The warning came as Organised Labour commenced a three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with NULGE over the continued withholding of local government allocations since February 2025.

The strike, which began at midnight on Sunday, November 8, is expected to end at midnight on Wednesday, November 11.

The labour movement said the action was necessary to draw attention to the plight of local government workers whose cooperative deductions, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements remained under threat.

It also announced plans to embark on peaceful picketing of UBA branches across Osun State over the disputed disbursement of local government funds.

The unions demanded the immediate release of outstanding statutory allocations, an end to further payments into the disputed UBA accounts and protection of workers’ entitlements.

Organised Labour urged both the Federal and Osun State governments to take urgent steps to resolve the crisis, stressing that industrial peace could only be achieved through justice and respect for workers’ rights.