Resumption of work across local government secretariats in Osun State on Monday witnessed a low turnout of workers, marking the end of an eight-month industrial action triggered by a leadership tussle at the third tier of government.

The prolonged strike began in February 2025 following a power struggle between elected officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC. The standoff kept many council offices under lock and key for months, paralysing grassroots administration.

The deadlock began to ease after the Federal Government recognised the reinstated APC chairmen and released six months of previously withheld allocations into local government accounts under their control.

Last week, the Coordinator of the aggrieved workers, Comrade Adedayo Adekunle, urged colleagues to end the industrial action, describing the strike as unnecessary. However, the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, maintained that the stay-at-home order remained in force.

It was gathered that some workers returned to their duty posts in Boripe, Orolu, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun, Ayedire, and Ilesa West local government areas under tight security.

Despite the security presence, turnout was generally low across the secretariats visited.

Chairman of Olorunda Local Government Area, Hon. Kunle Kudaisi, dismissed claims that the council had been completely shut down since February.

“We have been attending to our assignments in the LG, but today NULGE formally resumed, as you can see them hanging around,” he said.

Kudaisi attributed the low attendance to the fact that many workers were at the Osun State Secretariat to collect their promotion letters.

“We have NULGE members who have resumed and the political office holders are fully on ground, so there is no problem at all,” he added.

He urged other workers to return, assuring them that the work environment remains safe for staff and residents.

Low turnout as Osun LG workers resume after eight-month strike