Low turnout as Osun council workers resume after 11-month stall

Local government workers in Osun State returned to their offices on Monday after nearly 11 months of a sit-at-home order, but turnout was noticeably low across several council areas.

It was observed that the secretariats only had a handful of staff on duty, with a heavy police presence reported at most locations visited.

At the Olorunda Local Government headquarters, about 30 workers were seen on the premises shortly before 9 a.m.

Council chairmen welcomed the resumption, saying it would help revive stalled grassroots activities.

The chairman of Olorunda council, Kunle Abdulmajid, expressed optimism that the return of workers would boost development in the area.

In Ife Central and Ede North local governments, only a few workers were present, with police screening staff before granting access to council offices.

Some workers declined to speak with reporters, saying they had been instructed not to comment.

The prolonged absence from duty followed a leadership dispute in Osun’s local government councils after a February 2025 Court of Appeal ruling.

Rival claims between All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials over council control led the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to order a withdrawal of services from February 17, 2025.

Late last year, NULGE’s national leadership directed members to resume work from January 5, 2026.

However, some groups have opposed the decision, calling for a peaceful and orderly process as the councils reopen.

Security agencies in the state had earlier warned against any attempt to disrupt the resumption, and police were deployed across council secretariats on Monday to maintain order.