Osun workers threaten to withhold support for Tinubu over withheld LG funds
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The Organised Labour in Osun State has declared that it cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners and their families for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election over the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local government councils in the state.
The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun, Christopher Arapasopo, made this known on Monday in Osogbo following the expiration of its seven-day ultimatum to the federal and Osun State governments to resolve the dispute over local government allocations, which it said had been withheld since February 2025.
Arapasopo said the failure of the relevant authorities to address the matter had compelled the labour movement to activate its planned industrial actions, including a three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State Council. The strike began at midnight on Sunday, November 8, and is scheduled to end at midnight on Wednesday, November 11.
Explaining its position on Tinubu’s re-election, the labour leader said workers’ support was neither automatic nor unconditional, stressing that the welfare of workers, pensioners and their dependants must take precedence over individual political preferences.
“This position arises from the continued withholding of local government allocations and the attendant hardship imposed on workers, pensioners and our dependants. We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering!
“We are aware of Mr Governor’s commitment to supporting the president’s re-election. However, the interests and welfare of workers, pensioners and our dependants must take precedence over individual political preferences,” he said.
The labour movement demanded the immediate release of all outstanding statutory allocations due to Osun local government councils, an end to further payments into what it described as illegal UBA accounts, protection of workers’ entitlements and a permanent resolution of the financial impasse.
Arapasopo appealed to residents to understand that the industrial action was not directed against them, while regretting the disruptions caused by the strike.
“We regret the disruptions but cannot continue to endure injustice simply to prevent inconvenience to others. The disruption of services is an unfortunate consequence of a crisis that should have been resolved by the relevant authorities,” he said.
