The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, against embarking on its planned three-day sympathy strike and picketing of United Bank for Africa, UBA, branches over the lingering local government allocation dispute in the state.
The party also called on the Osun State Police Command and other security agencies to remain alert and prevent any breakdown of law and order during the proposed industrial action.
The APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Tuesday.
The party was reacting to a communique issued by the Osun NLC, led by its chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, announcing a three-day sympathy strike scheduled to commence on Sunday, November 8, and end at midnight on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The communique also announced plans to embark on peaceful picketing of all UBA branches across Osun State from Thursday, November 12, with mobilisation reportedly receiving support from the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and councils in the South-West.
However, the APC described the planned industrial action and picketing as illegal, arguing that disputes surrounding local government allocations should be resolved through appropriate legal and administrative channels.
“We consider it a criminal act for the state NLC to contemplate the threat of industrial action and picketing against UBA, as such is counterproductive because legal and administrative disagreements should ideally be addressed through appropriate institutional channels,” the party stated.
The APC urged security agencies to monitor the activities of the labour union, warning that anyone found responsible for a breakdown of law and order should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The party acknowledged the responsibility of organised labour to protect workers’ salaries, pensions and allowances but faulted the NLC’s position on the local government allocation controversy.
It insisted that the rights of reinstated elected APC chairmen and councillors should also be respected.
It argued that the NLC should remain impartial in the dispute and avoid allowing partisan political considerations to influence its position on local government administration and autonomy.
According to the APC, “local government allocations from the Federation Account belong to the respective council areas according to the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy. The funds should not be subjected to undue political pressure.”
The party questioned the justification for the proposed strike, claiming that the labour union had not reported unpaid or delayed salaries, pensions, allowances or other entitlements.
It also alleged that the planned action was politically motivated and designed to influence public perception of the current occupants of local government offices in the state.
The APC appealed to the NLC national secretariat to intervene and prevail on its Osun State chapter to reconsider the planned action, stressing the need to prioritise workers’ welfare, impartiality and respect for the rule of law.
