Govt offices shut in Osun, as workers begin three-day strike over LG allocations saga

Governor Ademola Adeleke

Government offices in Osun State shut down on Monday as workers embark on a three-day strike as directed by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gates to the Osun State Government Secretariat and the state House of Assembly in Osogbo, the state capital, were under lock with no worker or business activities ongoing in the premises.

Similarly, the gates to the secretariats of the Olorunda and Osogbo local government areas gates were also locked.

Students of public schools in Osogbo were turned back home as their teachers joined the strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC Chairman in Osun State, Christopher Arapasopo, and the Secretary, Victor Amusan, in a statement on Sunday, directed all affiliate members of the congress to embark on a three-day sympathy strike with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

The NLC leadership explained that the strike followed the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to the federal and Osun State governments over the continued withholding of the state local government statutory allocations.

The NLC said that the issues raised concerning the local government allocations had remained unresolved.

It said that after exhausting all reasonable avenues, and in accordance with the resolutions reached at the emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) held on 28 October, all affiliate members of NLC were directed to embark on strike.

The controversy over the control of Osun State local governments and use of their allocations dates back to the early months of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration in 2022.

Following his inauguration, separate lawsuits filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Peoples Party (APP) challenged the local government election conducted by the then outgoing All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola shortly before leaving office.

The challengers argued that the APC-led election failed to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act requiring election notices to be issued at least 180 days before polling.

In its judgement on the matter, the Osun State High Court in Ilesa ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct fresh polls, holding that the previous electoral process did not comply with statutory requirements. The officials who emerged victorious in the February 2025 election were sworn in.

However, officials sacked by Mr Adeleke challenged the development at the Court of Appeal which also ordered their reinstatement.

The dispute later escalated into a political and security crisis, with rival groups laying claim to council secretariats across the state.

However, the struggle for control of the councils turned violent when some APC members attempted to take over the secretariats, citing favourable court decisions, leading to clashes with resisting PDP supporters and raising tensions in several parts of the state.

In the clash, at least five people were reportedly dead. The violence prompted Governor Adeleke to direct the newly elected chairmen to stay away from council secretariats in order to prevent further violence.

An aspect of the case which centred on the seizure of months of local government allocations was also fought out at the Supreme Court, culminating in a judgement delivered in December 2025.

In the 6-1 majority judgement, the Supreme Court tossed the suit instituted by the Governor Adeleke-led state government for lack of jurisdiction but rebuked the federal government for withholding the local government funds.

Delivering the lead majority judgement, Judge Mohammed Baba-Idris held that only duly elected and inaugurated local government officials held the authority to initiate or defend legal action directly.

However, Mr Baba-Idris noted that the federal government was wrong in withholding the local government fund, an action that was a breach of the Nigerian constitution.

A later High Court ruling emerged from another suit filed by officials elected under the previous administration, who sought an extension of their tenure beyond October 2025.

In its judgement, the court held that tenure elongation for elected local government officials was unconstitutional and dismissed the case.

Governor Adeleke had earlier interpreted the ruling as confirmation that the officials, whom he mockingly called “Yes/No chairmen,” had no legal basis to continue occupying council offices.

The governor subsequently called on security agencies to withdraw protection from the officials and support the restoration of what he described as duly elected local government administrations.

The returning chairmen, however, insist that the judgement strengthened their legal standing and confirms the validity of the February 2025 election.

With both sides claiming legal backing, the latest development is expected to further intensify political tensions in the state, while allocations accruing to the local governments in the state remain unacounted for.