Osun LG resumption: heavy security as council workers suspend 11-month strike

Local government areas across Osun State on Monday recorded a low turnout of workers as staff resumed duty after an 11-month sit-at-home directive, amid heavy security presence at council secretariats.

Visits by journalists to several local government areas showed that only a few workers were present, while a strong police presence was observed in all the councils visited.

At Olorunda Local Government Area, only a handful of workers were seen on the premises. The council chairman, Kunle Kudaisi, expressed satisfaction over the resumption of staff after nearly 11 months.

Kudaisi said the return of workers would help revive grassroots development, which he noted had suffered during the prolonged shutdown.

“We are all from this state and working for its progress. With the resumption of workers today, I am very sure that Osun will move forward,” he said.

At Boluwaduro Local Government in Otan-Ayegbaju, workers were also seen within the council premises. The chairman, Alhaji Bayo Oyekanmi, welcomed the staff back to work and commended them for ending the strike.

Oyekanmi said the resumption would revitalise developmental activities at the grassroots level, which had stalled during the industrial action.

Similarly, at Ife Central Local Government, a few workers were sighted, with heavy security stationed both at the entrance and within the secretariat. Police officers screened workers at the gate before granting access.

At about 8:45 a.m. at the Ede North Local Government Secretariat, some workers were seen cleaning their offices, while others exchanged greetings and chatted within the premises.

At the Osogbo Local Government Secretariat in Oke-Baale, policemen were observed scrutinising workers before allowing them entry. Apparently gripped by fear, some staff parked their vehicles outside the council premises.

Police officers were seen demanding identity cards, allowing only workers with valid local government identification to enter the offices.

The announcement of the workers’ resumption had earlier triggered anxiety and apprehension among council staff across the state. The fear stems from the violent clashes of February 17, 2025, between members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which led to the death of Remi Abass, former chairman of Irewole Local Government.

Abass was killed at the council secretariat in Ikire while attempting to enforce a court order for his reinstatement.

Following the incident, Governor Ademola Adeleke urged residents and politicians of both parties to stay away from local government secretariats to prevent further violence, directing that only security personnel should manage the facilities at the time.

Subsequently, APC chairmen resumed control of council affairs. After 11 months of the crisis, the state president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, directed workers to resume duty on January 5, citing improved security across all local government areas.

Ogungbangbe noted that the tenure of the APC chairmen expired in October 2025 and criticised what he described as the illegal occupation of public facilities.

“The forcible occupation of public facilities by these individuals is a direct violation of Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

Reacting to the resumption, Governor Adeleke expressed optimism that it would mark a meaningful restart of services and social delivery at the grassroots. He praised the police for ensuring security and stressed the need to maintain law and order.

“A harmonious environment is necessary for the dividends of democracy to be delivered effectively,” the governor said.

The APC, on its part, commended the police for their proactive role in restoring order as workers returned to council offices. The party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, expressed appreciation for the police’s efforts in maintaining peace since the court reinstated APC leadership in the councils.

However, the situation became more complex on Sunday when the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers, led by Adekunle Adedayo, declared that its members would continue to work with the APC chairmen who have remained in office despite the strike.

Adedayo criticised the earlier strike led by Ogungbangbe, describing it as politically motivated and alleging that it caused unnecessary hardship for workers.

“The prolonged strike had severe consequences. Many staff suffered health challenges, with reports of about 20 deaths during this period,” he claimed.

He also called for clarity in union leadership, warning against unauthorised individuals claiming to represent NULGE, noting that the tenure of the current executives expired in May 2025.

With both APC and PDP chairmen still laying claim to control of the third tier of government in Osun State, political tension continues to simmer across the state.