Government activities across Osun State were brought to a standstill on Monday as workers shut the State Government Secretariat, House of Assembly and local government offices in compliance with a three-day strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government councils.
The industrial action, which extended to public schools, disrupted administrative and academic activities in parts of the state, particularly Osogbo, as workers stayed away from their duty posts and students were sent home following the withdrawal of teachers.
Reports said the gates of the Osun State Government Secretariat and the State House of Assembly in Osogbo were locked on Monday, with no workers or official business activities taking place within the premises.
The Olorunda and Osogbo Local Government Secretariats were also shut, as workers complied with the NLC directive.
Public school students in Osogbo were equally affected, as teachers joined the strike and asked pupils to return home, disrupting the school day.
The strike followed a directive issued on Sunday by the state chapter of the NLC after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal and Osun State governments over the continued withholding of local government statutory allocations.
In a statement jointly signed by the NLC Chairman in Osun, Christopher Arapasopo, and its Secretary, Victor Amusan, the congress directed all its affiliate members in the State to embark on a three-day sympathy strike in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The labour leaders said the decision was taken because the issues raised over the local government allocations had remained unresolved despite the ultimatum issued to the two levels of government.
They explained that the directive was in accordance with resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) held on October 28.
The NLC leadership said it had exhausted all reasonable avenues to resolve the dispute before resorting to industrial action.
According to the statement, the strike is intended to demonstrate solidarity with NULGE over the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local government councils.
The congress maintained that the concerns raised by labour over the allocations had not been addressed, despite the seven-day ultimatum given to the Federal and Osun State governments.
The three-day action also represents an extension of the dispute beyond local government employees, with other affiliate unions directed to participate in the withdrawal of services.
The dispute over local government allocations has remained a contentious issue in Osun, involving questions surrounding the release and administration of funds statutorily meant for the councils.
With the participation of workers across different public institutions, the industrial action has affected government administration, local government operations, and public education in the State.
As of Monday, the affected government offices and local government secretariats remained shut, while workers stayed away from their duty posts in compliance with the NLC directive.
- Media Report