Crisis: Anxiety As Osun LG Workers Resume
There is anxiety, palpable fear and tension among residents of Osun State, as civil servants under the auspices of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), resume on Monday, after its 11-month old strike.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the workers who declared a stay-at-home action on February 17, 2025 after crisis erupted over the control of the third-tier government between Chairmen elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 15, 2022 and those elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on February 22, 2025.
While the workers did not resume at the councils on February 17, six people, including a former Chairman of Irewole local government, Remi Abass, were killed.
Since the development, council secretariats in the state have been shut, with the unions alleging that the prolonged dispute by both parties may jeopardise the lives of its members.
However, Osun NULGE President, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, noted that the workers will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026, provided that there is security cover for his colleagues.
The NULGE President also made some demands, saying:
“Admission of Tenure Expiration: The sacked ‘APC Yes/No Chairmen’ admitted under oath before the Supreme Court in Suit No: SC/CV/773/2025—Attorney-General of Osun State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (which forms part of the judicial record)—that they were elected on 15th October, 2022, for a three-year tenure. By effluxion of time, their tenure legally expired on 30th October, 2025.”
“Our Prayers: In view of our scheduled resumption on 5th January, 2026, we respectfully request the Security Agencies to: Deploy adequate security to the 30 Local Government councils, Area offices, and LCDAs Secretariats to prevent intimidation, harassment, or disruption of lawful duties; prevent any further illegal occupation of these secretariats by unauthorized persons to ensure public peace.”
The leadership of the Osun APC, unimpressed by NULGE’s alleged meddling in crises over the control of local government areas in the state, had alerted security agencies, saying Ogungbangbe might be planning to disrupt peace in the council areas.
However, the Osun State Police Command, while warning against any act of lawlessness as workers return to their duty posts, said non-employees of LGAs must not be seen near council secretariat premises across the state.
A statement by its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, partly read, “The Osun State Police Command has received credible intelligence indicating that certain unscrupulous politicians are planning to disrupt the peaceful resumption of duties by local government employees at various council secretariats. Such malicious plans will not be tolerated and will be met with resolute and decisive action by the command to maintain law and order.”
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Gotan, hereby warns that any individual who is not a bonafide staff member of the local government authorities must refrain from approaching or loitering around the secretariats.”
The police further said personnel have been directed to “deal firmly and professionally with anyone attempting to incite unrest or cause disturbances. The command will not permit miscreants to undermine the peace and tranquility that have been diligently sustained in the state.”
It also reassured law-abiding residents of the state of the police’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, as personnel continue to discharge their constitutional duties with vigilance and professionalism.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
