Osun NLC Threatens Three-Day Strike, Picketing Of UBA Over LG Funds

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve the lingering controversy surrounding the withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government councils in the state.

The Congress warned that failure to address the matter within the stipulated period would trigger a three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with affected local government workers, alongside peaceful picketing of United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches across Osun State.

The state council chairman, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, disclosed this in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC)-in-Session.

The NLC expressed concern that the prolonged funding crisis had weakened the financial capacity of local government councils to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and meet their obligations to workers.

It acknowledged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s intervention in paying the net salaries of local government workers without deductions but maintained that such intervention could not serve as a substitute for the regular release of statutory allocations due to the councils.

According to the communiqué, the proposed industrial action would commence with a three-day sympathy strike from midnight on Sunday, November 8, to midnight on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in line with the directives of the SEC-in-Session and applicable labour laws.

The Congress further announced that peaceful picketing of UBA branches across the state would begin on Thursday, November 12, as part of efforts to demand an immediate resolution of the continued withholding and disputed disbursement of local government funds.

The communiqué partly read, “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.”

The labour body stressed that the planned actions were not intended to create hardship for residents but were a legitimate response to the prolonged difficulties confronting local government workers and the threat to their economic survival, dignity and welfare.

It also disclosed that mobilisation was ongoing with the support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and South-West councils to ensure the participation of workers and other concerned stakeholders in the planned picketing.

The NLC maintained that it would not remain indifferent while workers were allegedly denied the financial security and institutional protection required to sustain their livelihoods.

“The Congress will not stand idly by while workers are denied the financial security and institutional protection necessary to sustain their livelihoods,” the communiqué added.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and promoting industrial harmony, the Congress argued that sustainable industrial peace could not be achieved where workers’ welfare was undermined and legitimate entitlements remained uncertain.

It consequently urged the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to act with urgency and resolve the crisis within the seven-day ultimatum.

The Congress also appealed to stakeholders to support a lawful, transparent and lasting solution that would restore normalcy to the local government administration and ease the hardship faced by affected workers.