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Osun LG Impasse: ‘Your Industrial Action Is Politically Motivated, Aimed To Blackmail Judiciary, Cause Civil Unrest’, CSO Lambasts Osun NLC, NULGE, Others Over Warning Strike

Published by admin on November 9th, 2026.

Osun LG Impasse: ‘Your Industrial Action Is Politically Motivated, Aimed To Blackmail Judiciary, Cause Civil Unrest’, CSO Lambasts Osun NLC, NULGE, Others Over Warning Strike

Following a three-day warning strike commences today Monday 9th, November, 2026 by the organised Labour in Osun state, a renowned civil society organisation – World Institute for Peace (WIP) has described the industrial action as politically motivated with the sole intention of blackmailing the judiciary, creating a possible atmosphere of anarchy and heating up the polity.

The organization hinged its position on the trajectory of the local government crisis in the State and the plethora of litigations surrounding local government administration in Osun.

The WIP in a press conference, held at the Osun State Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo, on Monday, by its Executive Director, Comrade Lamina Omotoyosi said the organisation considered the proposed strike as mere political grandstanding deliberately orchestrated to patronise the state government, intimidate the judiciary and blackmail the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“As an organisation committed to promoting peace, stability, development and social justice, we consider this warning strike needless, barbaric, deceptive and a deliberate attempt to ground the state’s economy and potentially trigger civil unrest”, WIP said.

The civil society organisation acknowledged the fundamental rights of workers to embark on peaceful protest and industrial action when necessary but frowned at the motive behind the 3-day warning strike being embarked upon by the state workforce over the local government crisis.

According to the WIP, the Osun labour movement which supposed to be neutral, unbiased and apolitical had appeared to to have chosen political patronage over honesty, integrity and the general interest of workers in the state as seen in its biased conducts overtime in the state.

“We have no reservation in concluding that the strike is being embarked upon in bad faith and is politically motivated, with the intention of blackmailing the judiciary and creating a possible atmosphere of anarchy in the polity. This position is informed by the trajectory of the local government crisis in Osun State and the plethora of litigations surrounding local government administration in the state.

“Unfortunately, the reverse appears to be the case in Osun State. As things stand today, the labour movement in the state appears to have chosen political patronage over honesty, integrity and the general interest of workers.

“As an organisation, we are equally disturbed and seriously concerned about the protracted nature of the local government crisis and the legal impediments affecting the release of local government allocations.

“We are genuinely interested in a timely resolution of the crisis and the release of funds to improve the lives of people at the grassroots. However, ignoring existing legal obstacles amounts to mischief, dishonesty and an affront to the judiciary, particularly when such a position is being advanced by a labour movement that ought to be a custodian of public institutions, including the judiciary”, WIP affirmed.

The organisation recalled the effort of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun state chapter to drag the local government council chairmen and councillors to court before the case was stylishly withdrew arguing that “it is therefore unfortunate that the same labour movement now appears to be resorting to extrajudicial means of seeking redress having failed to tow path of legality through court pronouncement.”

WIP said, ” For emphasis, protests and industrial strikes are fundamental rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. However, in the present circumstances, this warning and sympathy strike represents, in our view, a high level of dishonesty and an attempt to create an economic crisis in the state while inflicting unnecessary hardship on public and private business owners.

“The option we would have expected from the labour unions is constructive dialogue with all parties involved in the ongoing litigations. The unions should persuade the parties to either withdraw the cases or consider an out-of-court settlement that would pave the way for the resolution of the impasse surrounding local government funds in Osun State.

“While we respect the constitutional rights of the labour movement to protest and embark on industrial action, we strongly disagree with what we consider the dishonest and diversionary nature of this strike. The labour movement is fully aware that the resolution of the crisis ultimately rests with the competent courts of law. It should also be conscious of the economic sabotage and hardship that the strike may cause the state.

” We therefore consider the strike a needless exercise aimed at eliciting public sympathy, creating tension and potentially encouraging anarchy in the state. It lacks a clear direction and a convincing justification, and may amount to nothing more than a deliberate punishment of the people of Osun State.”

The organisation appealed to the labour movement to have a rethink in the larger interest of Osun State saying the people of the state should not be subjected to unnecessary hardship through a strike as it is crystal clear that the final decision on the local government allocation crisis rests with the judiciary.

The WIP tasked the state labour union leaders to leverage on their membership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reelection Campaign Council being led by Governor Ademola Adeleke in the state to engage the political parties involved in the litigations for a lasting solution.

“Interestingly, the labour unions could have used the opportunity of their recent inclusion in the Campaign Council of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as announced by the State Coordinator, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to engage the political parties involved in the litigations. Such engagement could help facilitate an amicable resolution and allow Osun State to breathe again over the lingering local government allocation crisis”, Omotoyosi stated.

The organisation called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to strengthen security across the state and ensure adequate protection of public and private facilities against possible attacks or destruction.

“This is necessary to prevent hoodlums and other criminal elements from hijacking the process and causing a breakdown of law and order.

“As a state that has just survived a highly contentious and violent governorship election, we must collectively avoid every action or inaction capable of reigniting political hostility, deepening divisions or threatening the peace and stability of Osun State.

“The interest of the people must remain paramount, and all stakeholders must demonstrate restraint, responsibility and commitment to the rule of law”, WIP added.