Osun NLC Withdraws Support for Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election Over Withheld LG Allocations, Says Workers’ Votes Not Automatic

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Osun State Council, has declared that it cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners and their families for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the continued withholding of Local Government statutory allocations and the hardship it has imposed on workers in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, 9th November, 2026, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government and the Osun State Government, Osun NLC Chairman Comrade Christopher Arapasopo reiterated that the Congress cannot guarantee the President’s reelection with the current hardship being experienced by Osun State workers and pensioners.

The labour body had, at an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council held on 28th October, 2026, issued a seven-day ultimatum to both governments to resolve the crisis. The ultimatum expired without a satisfactory resolution, prompting the Congress to activate the industrial actions earlier approved by its SEC-in-Session.

In the press conference address, the Organised Labour reaffirmed the commencement of a three-day sympathy strike in solidarity with NULGE, Osun State Council, from midnight of Sunday, 8th November, to midnight of Wednesday, 11th November, 2026. The action, it said, was necessitated by the prolonged hardship suffered by Local Government workers, whose cooperative deductions, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements remain threatened. “We cannot abandon our comrades in their hour of need,” the Congress stated.

The labour body also confirmed that the peaceful picketing of United Bank for Africa branches across Osun State will commence soon, aimed at demanding an end to the disputed disbursement of Local Government allocations and ensuring that all outstanding funds are released into the appropriate accounts of constitutionally valid Local Government administrations.

On its political position, the Congress said: “For now, the Organised Labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This position arises from the continued withholding of Local Government allocations and the attendant hardship imposed on workers, pensioners and our dependents. We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering.”

It added: “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 dependents must take precedence over individual political preferences. Workers’ support is neither automatic nor unconditional; it must be earned through policies and actions that protect their welfare and dignity.”

Earlier in the day, government offices in Osun were shut down as staff were seen in scanty numbers standing outside the gates of some offices, while union members and journalists waited for the press conference at the labour congress premises in Osogbo.

Union members and journalists were thereafter mobilised to proceed to the Osun State House of Assembly, where it was reported that the Permanent Secretary, Osun State House of Assembly Commission, Taiye Elutilo, had gained forceful entrance into the premises and resumed office despite the sympathy strike declared by the Organised Labour Congress, Osun State Chapter.

The members, led by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Osun State, Comrade Adekunle Adesina Hakeem, stormed the Assembly and ejected the Permanent Secretary, securing the offices under lock and key.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Hakeem condemned the act of the Permanent Secretary as a betrayal to the Local Government workers in the state, whom he described as having suffered immensely in the last two years of the Osun Local Government Areas’ starvation of funds through the paucity of allocation. He emphasised that there will be no guarantee of the two million votes promised by Governor Adeleke to Tinubu’s reelection if the Local Government issue is not permanently resolved.

The Congress listed its demands to include the immediate release of all outstanding statutory allocations due to Osun State Local Government Councils, the discontinuation of further payments into what it described as illegal UBA accounts, the protection of workers’ salaries, cooperative deductions, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements, and the permanent resolution of the Local Government financial impasse.

Appealing to the people of Osun State, the labour body said: “We sincerely acknowledge that the shutdown of public services may cause inconvenience to residents. However, we wish to emphasise that organised labour is not embarking on this action to punish the people or deliberately inflict hardship on anyone. Labour is not at war with the people of Osun State.”

It added: “NULGE did not create this crisis, neither does it desire its continuation. Our demands are simple: release the funds, protect workers’ entitlements and restore normalcy to the Local Government system. We remain open to genuine dialogue but insist that industrial peace must be founded on justice and respect for workers’ rights.”

The Congress urged the Federal Government and the Osun State Government to act urgently and responsibly to resolve the crisis, declaring: “We remain united, resolute and committed to defending the working class. An injury to one is an injury to all. Solidarity forever!”