Osun APC chieftain urges LG workers’ return to work, seeks neutrality
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has commended the leadership of the Concerned Local Government Staff of Osun State for directing workers in the council areas to resume work immediately.
In a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye described the prolonged withdrawal of services by local government workers across the state as “pathetic and unfortunate.”
The former lawmaker noted that the strike, which commenced on February 17, 2025, had severely disrupted activities in all council areas, causing hardship, particularly for rural dwellers.
“Provision of certain essential services in the last month at the local government areas across the state had been crippled due to the withdrawal of services by the workers,” he stated.
He further lamented the closure of clinics, primary healthcare centres, marriage registries, and administrative offices, emphasizing the adverse impact on pregnant women, students, and individuals requiring official documentation.
“Oyintiloye said that many pregnant women at the grassroots could not access their routine immunisation, while many applicants who needed documentation necessary to apply for federal jobs could not also access the secretariats.”
Urging the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state to uphold their neutrality, he said: “Since both unions are supposed to be apolitical, they should uphold the tenets of their creation, which is to serve all governments in power.”
He assured that security measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of returning workers.
It read further, “To protect lives and properties, council chairmen would liaise with security agencies and ensure that workers were adequately protected upon resumption.
“The perceived crisis in council areas had been put under control by the security agencies. There is a peaceful atmosphere for workers to resume back to their duty posts.”
Oyintiloye also praised a faction of NULGE under the aegis of the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff for their commitment to resuming work on Monday.
“I commended members of a faction of NULGE under the aegis of the Association of Concerned Local Government staff for their willingness to resume work on Monday,” the statement partly read.
He warned the state government against any actions that could jeopardize local government administration.
Local government workers in Osun had been absent from their duty posts since February 17, 2025, following a directive from NULGE and NLC, citing safety concerns amid the anticipated clashes between the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over control of council areas.
The crisis escalated into violent confrontations, with police confirming six fatalities and multiple injuries across several council secretariats.
The violence erupted as chairmen elected in the February 15, 2022 polls moved to enforce a Court of Appeal judgment from Akure, affirming their legitimacy.
