Osun Workers Begin Three-Day Strike Over Withheld Local Government Funds

Government activities in Osun State came to a standstill on Monday as workers across the state joined a three-day sympathy strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the continued withholding of local government statutory allocations.

A visit to major government establishments in Osogbo showed that the Osun Government Secretariat and State House of Assembly were closed, with their gates locked and no official activities taking place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the secretariats of Olorunda and Osogbo local governments were shut as workers complied with the strike directive.

The industrial action extended to the education sector, with public school teachers joining the protest. Students who had arrived at schools in Osogbo were consequently asked to return home.

The strike was announced on Sunday by the state NLC leadership through a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, and Secretary, Victor Amusan.

The union directed all its affiliate members to observe a three-day sympathy strike in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

The labour organisation said the decision followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government concerning the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local governments in the state.

It maintained that the dispute remained unresolved despite efforts to secure a resolution.

The NLC leadership further stated that it had exhausted all reasonable avenues before resorting to industrial action.

According to the statement, the decision was taken in accordance with resolutions reached during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council held on October 28.

The congress subsequently directed all its affiliate unions and members to join the three-day action as a show of solidarity with NULGE.

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