Local government workers in Osun State will resume duty on January 5, 2026, following assurances of adequate security by the Nigeria Police Force, a development that has eased fears among workers and signalled a return to council activities after months of disruption.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said the police commitment, announced in Osogbo, was central to the decision to resume work, coming amid lingering tensions over a disputed court judgment on local government leadership in the state.
Speaking on Saturday in Osogbo, the Osun State President of NULGE, Mr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, said the assurance of protection for lives and property across all local government areas had given workers the confidence to return to their duties. He noted that the development would help restore services at the grassroots and avert a further breakdown of law and order.
Mr. Ogungbangbe praised the police for what he described as a proactive and professional approach to security, saying it reflected their constitutional responsibility to maintain public peace. He added that the commitment had calmed fears among union members and reinforced confidence in the ability of security agencies to act impartially.
“The confidence expressed by the police has gone a long way in easing concerns about the safety of our members as they resume work,” Mr. Ogungbangbesaid.
He added that the union believed the security agencies would continue to uphold the rule of law and protect lawful activities across the state.
The NULGE president also reaffirmed the union’s commitment to peaceful engagement and responsible unionism. He urged workers to cooperate with security agencies and to remain calm, lawful, and orderly while carrying out their duties.
Similarly, Osun State Governor, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, commended the leadership of NULGE for directing workers to resume duty, describing the decision as patriotic and in the overall interest of the people of the state.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, the governor said the move demonstrated the labour movement’s sensitivity to the needs of residents at the grassroots level.
According to Mr. Adeleke, the resumption of work on January 5 would usher in improved service delivery and renewed social development across the state. He also praised the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 11, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for ensuring adequate security around council secretariats.
“The police command has acted responsibly to forestall anarchy and violence allegedly being planned by some elements,” the governor said. “Their prompt intervention has effectively nipped in the bud any untoward developments, and we expect this resolve to be sustained.”
The crisis in Osun’s local government administration followed a February 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Akure. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that the ruling did not reinstate the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, the APC maintained that the judgment restored them to office.
As a result of the disagreement and rising security concerns, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE directed local government workers to withdraw their services from February 17, 2025.
However, on December 29, 2025, the NULGE leadership in the state announced that workers would return to work after internal consultations.
Mr. Ogungbangbe said the decision for members to resume duty on January 5, 2026, was taken after wide-ranging consultations within the union.
The directive has, however, been opposed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State. In a statement, the ALGON Chairman, Mr. Samuel Abiodun, warned that Mr. Ogungbangbe should be held responsible if there is any breach of peace or breakdown of law and order across the state’s local government areas.
