Government offices across Osun State were shut on Monday as workers began a three-day strike over the continued withholding of local government allocations.
The industrial action followed a directive from the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gates of the Osun State Government Secretariat and the State House of Assembly in Osogbo were locked. No workers or business activities were seen at the premises.
The secretariats of Olorunda and Osogbo local government areas were also closed.
Public school students in Osogbo were sent home as teachers joined the strike.
In a statement on Sunday, Osun NLC Chairman Christopher Arapasopo and Secretary Victor Amusan directed all affiliate unions to join the three-day sympathy strike in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The NLC said the action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal and Osun State governments over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local governments.
The union said the matter remained unresolved despite efforts to find a solution. It added that the decision followed resolutions reached at an emergency State Executive Council meeting on 28 October.
The dispute over control of local governments and their allocations began in 2022, shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke took office.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Peoples Party (APP) challenged local government elections conducted by the outgoing All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
They argued that the election notice did not meet the Electoral Act’s requirement of at least 180 days before polling.
The Osun State High Court in Ilesa later ordered fresh elections, ruling that the earlier process failed to meet statutory requirements. Officials who won the February 2025 election were subsequently sworn in.
However, officials removed by Adeleke challenged the development at the Court of Appeal, which ordered their reinstatement.
The disagreement triggered a political and security crisis, with rival groups claiming control of local government secretariats. Clashes between APC and PDP supporters reportedly left at least five people dead.
Adeleke later directed the newly elected chairmen to stay away from the secretariats to prevent further violence.
The dispute over local government allocations also reached the Supreme Court. In December 2025, the court dismissed a suit filed by the state government for lack of jurisdiction but criticised the Federal Government for withholding the funds.
In its 6-1 majority decision, the court held that only duly elected and inaugurated local government officials could directly begin or defend legal actions. It also ruled that withholding the allocations breached the Constitution.
A separate High Court ruling later rejected attempts by officials elected under the previous administration to extend their tenure beyond October 2025.
While Adeleke viewed the decision as confirmation that the officials had no legal basis to remain in office, the returning chairmen maintained that it supported their position and the validity of the February 2025 election.
With both sides continuing to claim legal backing, the latest strike could deepen political tensions in Osun, while questions remain over the local government allocations.
