On a quiet morning in Osun State, the offices of local government secretariats stood eerily empty. Desks collected dust. Chairs sat vacant. The usual hum of bureaucracy had been replaced by a heavy, uneasy silence. Outside, political tension brewed. Inside, the workers were gone — not because they wanted to be, but because their safety was no longer guaranteed.
For weeks now, the state has been gripped by political turmoil surrounding local government elections, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a bold stand. Citing serious security concerns, the NLC directed local government workers across the state to stay home and steer clear of their offices.
“Our members’ safety is non-negotiable,” said Christopher A. Arapasopo, the state chairman of the NLC said in a press release on Monday. “We will not allow them to work in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.”
Read Also: Diesel shortage threatens nationwide telecom shutdown – ATCON
But this crisis is about far more than empty offices and political maneuvering. It’s a story of ordinary people caught in the crossfire of a battle for power. It’s the story of workers afraid to do their jobs and a union refusing to back down.
The trouble began when the Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), advised the Osun State government to halt the planned local government elections. This was based on a ruling by the Akure Court of Appeal; a decision that threw the entire process into question.
But the Osun State government pushed forward, undeterred. The elections went ahead on February 22, 2025, despite mounting opposition and legal disputes. The next day, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victorious in all 30 local government areas. The result was swift and decisive, but it did little to calm the storm.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), having earlier withdrawn from the election and seized several local government secretariats, remained defiant. And while Governor Ademola Adeleke swore in the newly elected local government officials, the state’s political landscape was more fractured than ever.
The NLC’s directive to stay home wasn’t just a precaution; it was a lifeline. The union’s leaders have made it clear that they won’t allow political instability to endanger their members.
“We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Arapasopo said. “We will not be intimidated.”
As the crisis deepens, the NLC has called not just for safety, but for prayer. In their official statement, they urged workers to “continue praying for peace and stability in the state.”
The trouble began when the Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), advised the Osun State government to halt the planned local government elections. This was based on a ruling by the Akure Court of Appeal; a decision that threw the entire process into question.
But the Osun State government pushed forward, undeterred. The elections went ahead on February 22, 2025, despite mounting opposition and legal disputes. The next day, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victorious in all 30 local government areas. The result was swift and decisive, but it did little to calm the storm.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), having earlier withdrawn from the election and seized several local government secretariats, remained defiant. And while Governor Ademola Adeleke swore in the newly elected local government officials, the state’s political landscape was more fractured than ever.
The NLC’s directive to stay home wasn’t just a precaution; it was a lifeline. The union’s leaders have made it clear that they won’t allow political instability to endanger their members.
“We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Arapasopo said. “We will not be intimidated.”
As the crisis deepens, the NLC has called not just for safety, but for prayer. In their official statement, they urged workers to “continue praying for peace and stability in the state.”
