Benue Local Workers Begin Two-Week Strike Over Salaries

Local government workers across Benue State began a two-week warning strike on Thursday, May 14, 2026, to demand unpaid salaries and other long-standing entitlements from the state government.

The action followed a directive issued on May 13 by Joshua Adiniya, state president of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and secretary Aséneshi Yusuf. The union cited the government's failure to address multiple grievances despite a 14-day notice and a seven-working-day reminder. Key demands include unconditional payment of March and April 2026 salaries, implementation of pending promotions for local government staff, resolution of issues hindering BEPCON pension remittances, reinstatement of workers disengaged in 2011 and 2012, and clearance of all salary arrears.

"In view of the above, the union has been pushed to the wall and is left with no option, hence resolved that all Local Government workers should commence a two-week stay-at-home warning strike effective from Thursday, 14th May 2026," the notification stated. Adiniya told reporters by phone that the state owes workers seven months in salary arrears.

The strike marks the first such action by local government...