NULGE Declares LG Staff Won’t Return to Work in Osun

The National Union of Local Government Employees in Osun State has announced that its members will not return to work on Monday, saying their safety cannot be guaranteed.

The president of the union, Dr. Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, made the position of the group known on Friday while reacting to the decision of a factional body, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers of Osun State, which had declared that the ongoing strike should be suspended.

Local government activities in Osun have been disrupted since February 17, 2025, when violent clashes broke out between members of the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over control of council areas.

Following the violence, NULGE leadership directed its members to stay away from offices to avoid being caught up in the unrest.However, the factional group led by Adedayo Adekunle has continued to fault the directive, accusing the union leadership of partisanship and insensitivity.

The group called for immediate resumption of work, insisting that local government staff are non-political and should be protected by security agencies.

In his response, Ogungbangbe described the suspension call by the faction as selfish and dangerous, warning that returning to work while political clashes are ongoing could expose workers to serious harm.

He stressed that the official leadership of NULGE is focused on safeguarding members’ welfare and will not allow them to be used as victims in the crisis.Ogungbangbe also maintained that the faction’s leaders were no longer part of the union, noting that they had been suspended indefinitely after their defeat in the NULGE election held on March 4, 2025.

He said the elected executives remain committed to protecting the rights and safety of their members despite pressure from opposing groups.

The union assured its members that it would continue to resist any attempt to put them in danger and would stand firm against actions that could destabilize the local government system in the state.