Local government workers in Osun State returned to duty on Monday, January 5, 2026, after being away from work for nearly 11 months, although turnout remained low across many council secretariats. The resumption followed a directive from the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and took place amid heavy security deployment, owing to the lingering dispute over local government administration in the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), visits to several local government areas, including Osogbo, Olorunda, Ife Central, and Ede North, revealed that only a small number of workers reported for duty. Police officers were stationed at the entrances to council secretariats and within the premises to maintain law and order.
At the Osogbo Local Government Secretariat, only a handful of workers were seen on the premises as of about 8:45 a.m. A similar situation was observed at the Olorunda Local Government Secretariat, where about 30 workers were present.
Speaking at the Osogbo council, the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Kunle Abdulmajid, said he was pleased that workers had resumed duty after months of inactivity. He noted that the prolonged absence of staff had adversely affected development at the grassroots level.
“We are all from this state, and we are all working for the progress of Osun. With the resumption of workers today, I am very sure the state will move forward,” Mr. Abdulmajid said.
At the Ife Central Local Government Secretariat, only a few workers were sighted inside the premises, while security personnel screened staff before granting them access. Workers declined to speak with reporters, explaining that they had been instructed not to engage with the media.
Meanwhile, at the Ede North Local Government Secretariat, some workers were seen cleaning their offices, while others exchanged greetings. A council staff member, Mr. Kunle Ajao, said workers were pleased to return after spending several months at home.
“We are glad to resume duty after months of doing nothing. We hope the issues surrounding the local government crisis will be resolved so we can work without political interference,” Mr. Ajao said.
The Chairman of Ede North Local Government, Mr. Elliot Adeyemi, said the return of workers would improve service delivery and foster development across communities in the state.
“I have been at work since February 10, 2025. It was our workers, who had been at home for the past 11 months, that resumed today. The environment is calm, and nobody is harassing the workers,” Mr. Adeyemi said.
He called for cooperation among workers and other stakeholders, stressing that collaboration was essential for meaningful grassroots development.
The crisis affecting local government administration in Osun began after a February 10, 2025 judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained that the ruling did not reinstate the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, the APC insisted that the judgment restored them to office.
Following the dispute, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE directed local government workers to withdraw their services from February 17, 2025, citing security concerns. However, the national leadership of NULGE announced on December 29, 2025, that workers should resume duty.
Mr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe said the decision was taken after extensive consultations and that workers in Osun were directed to return to work on January 5, 2026.
The directive was opposed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state. In a statement, the ALGON Chairman in Osun, Mr. Samuel Abiodun, urged security agencies to hold Mr. Ogungbangbe responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order across the state’s local government areas.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command warned politicians against disrupting the resumption of workers. The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Giwa-Alade Emmanuel, said the command had received credible intelligence on plans to disrupt the exercise and would not allow anyone to undermine the peace and stability of the state.
