The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State has ordered civil servants in local government areas to withdraw their services due to rising political tension in the state.
State NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, issued the directive in a statement yesterday, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of workers.
“The Osun State Council of NLC strongly affirms its earlier release notifying all local government workers to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheaval within their workplaces while continuing in their prayers for the state,” the statement read.
Arapasopo stressed that workers’ safety remains a top priority and that the NLC will not allow its members to operate in an insecure environment. He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights, stating, “We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved state.”
The directive follows the unrest that erupted after the Osun local government election. On February 16, the NLC initially advised its members to withdraw their services while reiterating its non-partisan stance.
At the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, Governor Ademola Adeleke instructed newly elected local government chairpersons to avoid secretariats to prevent confrontations with individuals allegedly occupying them with police backing.
Tensions escalated last week when clashes broke out between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at several local government secretariats. Gunfire was reported during the violence, forcing residents to flee, with at least six people fatally shot.
