There was a low turnout of local government workers across Osun State on Monday as they officially resumed work after an eight-month strike over the control crisis between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had been on strike since February 17, 2025, following an Appeal Court judgment reinstating APC chairmen — a decision opposed by the PDP, which had earlier conducted its own council elections and installed its members.

The prolonged impasse left council offices under lock and key until the Federal Government recently recognized the reinstated APC chairmen and released six months of withheld allocations to the accounts operated by them. In response, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers fixed October 6, 2025, for their resumption.

Ahead of the resumption, police authorities assured residents and workers of adequate security across council areas.

When The Nation monitored activities on Monday, workers were seen resuming duties in local government areas such as Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun, Boripe, Ayedire, Obokun, and Ilesa West — all under heavy security presence.

Despite this, turnout remained low in several locations.

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Chairman of Olorunda LGA, Hon. Kunle Kudaisi, dismissed claims that the council had been completely shut since February, explaining that while political officeholders had continued working, NULGE members only formally resumed on Monday.

“Many workers could not resume today because they went to the state secretariat for their promotion letters,” Kudaisi said, expressing gratitude that “the rancor is now over in Osun State.”

At Olorunda, a worker, Mrs. Kuburat Aderemi, said she was excited to return to work, noting that the strike had denied staff access to cooperative deductions and other benefits.

Ifelodun LGA Chairman, Hon. Hassan Kamo, also welcomed staff back, saying, “Civil servants are the landlords of local government secretariats while we, politicians, are only tenants. I’m glad to see them resuming after eight months.”

Boripe Council Chairman, Hon. Sikiru Odebunmi, pledged continued commitment to the safety and security of all workers under his administration.

Attempts to speak with the APC factional Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (APC), Abiodun Idowu, were abortive as he refused to pick up his calls and respond to text messages sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report. (The Nation)

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