JUST IN: Osun LG workers resume secretariats amid tight security after 8 months sit-at-home

Some local government staff in Osun State have resumed duties at their various council secretariats after staying off work for about eight months, THE POINT can report.

As observed by our codependent in Osogbo Monday morning, few workers at Olorunda and Osogbo Local Government Councils were seen in the premises of the secretariats.

Between 7:50am and 9:00am, which is the time of filing this report, THE POINT reports that the workers were seen exchanging pleasantries while some officers of the Nigeria Police Force were sighted at the councils apparently ensuring law and order.

The resumption of work is coming after an eight-month strike over crisis between the major opposition All Progressives Congress and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The leadership tussle has resulted in two sets of local government officials called “sit at home” and “yes or no”, chairmen and councillors.

Perturbed by the violence that resulted from the struggle for control of the third tier of government, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, had on February 17, 2025, embarked on strike.

NULGE anchored his reason for down tooling on safety concerns for its members.

APC council chairmen were reportedly reinstated by the Court of Appeal, a decision opposed by the PDP. Also, the PDP-led state government conducted its own council election on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Since then, council offices across the state have remained closed amid legal and political wrangling over who controls the 30 local government areas and local council development areas.

The impasse took a new turn when the Federal Government reportedly recognised the APC chairmen by releasing six months of previously withheld allocations to accounts operated by the reinstated executives.

Following the development, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers announced October 6 as the date to resume duties, prompting security agencies to heighten surveillance at council premises to prevent clashes.

But, NULGE President in Osun, Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, kicked against the planned resumption, asking workers to remain at home.

However, observation by our codependent in the two councils revealed that a few number of workers were seen within some council premises.

At about 9:12am, no fewer than ten patrol vehicles of the Nigeria Police Force and Amotekun Corps stormed the premises of Osogbo Council Secretariat amid tension.