Organised labour in Osun State has warned that workers, pensioners and their families may withdraw their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 unless withheld local government allocations are released.
The warning was issued on Monday by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Christopher Arapasopo, alongside the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Abimbola Fasasi, and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Chairman, Olalekan Adediran.
The labour leaders spoke after assessing compliance with the ongoing three-day solidarity strike in support of local government workers across the state.
Arapasopo said the hardship arising from the withholding of local government funds had created widespread dissatisfaction among workers and pensioners, making it difficult for organised labour to guarantee political support for Tinubu in 2027.
“For now, the organised labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.
“We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering!” he added.
The NLC chairman acknowledged that Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun State, had pledged his support for the President.
However, he maintained that workers’ welfare would take precedence over individual political affiliations and endorsements.
According to him, the unions are demanding the immediate release of withheld local government allocations, protection of workers’ entitlements and restoration of normalcy to the local government administration.
Arapasopo also insisted that the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) was not responsible for the crisis and had no interest in prolonging the industrial dispute.
“NULGE did not create this crisis, neither does it desire its continuation,” he said, while expressing the unions’ readiness to embrace dialogue based on fairness and justice.
The labour leaders also appealed to residents of Osun State to exercise patience and understand the reasons behind the ongoing industrial action.
“Our struggle is not against them but for the economic survival and the protection of workers’ and pensioners’ welfare,” Arapasopo stated.
The unions’ warning introduces a potential political dimension to the lingering dispute over local government administration and finances in Osun State, with the welfare of council workers now directly linked to the 2027 political conversation.
