*Warns FG of total shutdown
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
The Umbrella body for public sector union in the country, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, Trade Union Side, has thrown its weight behind the three-day warning strike declared by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government areas in the state by the Federal Government.
The national leadership of the council described the industrial action as justified, warning that the prolonged withholding of local government funds, which it said had lasted for about 21 months, had inflicted severe economic hardship on local government workers and their dependants.
It called on the Federal Government to immediately release the outstanding allocations to prevent an escalation of the industrial dispute.
The national body also cautioned that the continued withholding of the funds could undermine grassroots administration and deepen the economic difficulties confronting workers across Osun State, stressing that urgent intervention was necessary to avert a total shutdown.
In a statement by the National Secretary of JNPSNC, Gbenga Olowoyo, on behalf of the national leadership, the council said: “The National leadership of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), under the Chairmanship of Comrade Benjamin Anto Uyanto mni, has thrown its weight behind the current three days strike called by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC over the continued withheld of the Local government fund by the Federal Government.
“The JNPSNC reviewed all the circumstances surrounding the reason for the solidarity strike called by the Osun State Council of NLC, which was premised on the urgent need to release the withheld statutory allocation due to local government areas in the state since February 2025, that is now about 21 months of withholding the fund (from February 2025 to November 2026) and considered it as very justifiable.
“The National leadership of JNPSNC considered the continued withheld of the Osun State local government fund by the Federal Government is not only excessive use of political power but also reckless without conscience, on account that the far reaching negative implications on the economic fortunes of the local government administration on one hand and the economic subjugation on the local government workers and their dependants on the hand is better imagined than experienced.
“Consequent upon the cry of the entire workers in Osun State, it is very desirable for the Federal Government and all concerned to release the fund without further delay in order to allow Osun State local government workers and their dependants to have economic breath.
“The National leadership of JNPSNC regretted that under democratic administration the Federal Government and its agencies responsible for the withheld allocations could descend so low to the extent of using Federal power to undermine the effective administration of local government in Osun State, which is the closest to the people in the grassroots and the essence of democracy itself in the real sense of it.
“Flowing from the above, the Federal Government should be sensitive and responsive enough to listen to the cry of Osun State workers and their dependants and release the withheld allocations funds to Osun State local government which is about 21 months now (i.e. from February 2025 to November 2026) without further delay.
“The National leadership of JNPSNC commended the State Chairman NLC, Dr Christopher Arapasopo, as well as TUC, JPSNC and the entire leadership of organised Labour in the State for providing responsible and well coordinated leadership direction during this crucial period in the lives of Osun State Local government workers.
“From the look of things and the economic death sentence the local government workers in Osun State Council are passing through, the three-day warning strike may dovetail to total strike or protest by Osun State workers against the Federal Government if the non-release of withheld Osun State local government funds persists.
“A stitch in time will save nine.”
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