Osun NLC Strike Disrupts Offices and Schools

Osun State’s Nigeria Labour Congress began a three-day sympathy strike on November 9, closing or disrupting government offices, local-government secretariats and public schools as it pressed for action over disputed local-government allocations. The strike is scheduled to run through November 11 in support of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, whose members the NLC says have faced hardship because of the unresolved funding dispute.

The NLC’s state chairperson, Christopher Arapasopo, and secretary, Victor Amusan, directed affiliate unions to join the action. The union said it followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum to the federal and Osun State governments and an emergency meeting of its State Executive Council on October 28. It said efforts to resolve the allocation dispute had not succeeded.

On the first day, government premises in Osogbo, including the state secretariat and House of Assembly, were reported locked, as were local-government offices in Osogbo and Olorunda. Public-school students were sent home, and schools were reported closed. Activity was also reported halted at primary healthcare centres and other government offices. Some...