Government offices shut in Osun as NLC directs workers strike

Government offices in Osun State shut on Monday as workers began a three-day strike in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) over withheld statutory allocations to local councils.

It's been reported that the gates of the Osun State Government Secretariat and the State House of Assembly in Osogbo were locked, with no workers or business activity at either premises. The Olorunda and Osogbo local government secretariats were also closed.

Public school pupils in Osogbo were sent home after teachers joined the strike. In a statement on Sunday, November 9, Osun State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Christopher Arapasopo and Secretary Victor Amusan directed all unions affiliated with the state chapter to take part in the strike.

The NLC said the action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum it had issued to the federal and Osun state governments over the continued withholding of statutory allocations to local governments in the state.

The congress said the dispute remained unresolved despite efforts to settle it. It said the strike was in line with resolutions adopted at an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council on October 28.