Monday saw a complete shutdown at Osun State government buildings, including secretariats, public schools, primary healthcare centers, and more.
Osun State Council members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) went on a sympathy strike over the local government funding that were withheld, which led to this development.
According to Afriseach, the Osun NLC’s chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, and secretary, Victor Amusan, published a statement on Sunday that demanded a three-day sympathy strike in support of the state’s LGCs and members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Osun State chapter.
While visiting the local government secretariats in Osogbo and Olorunda, Afrisearch saw that employees were circulating and having group discussions.
It became clear from talking to a few employees that they were following the NLC and NULGE’s orders.
“We got a circular from NULGE and a directive from NLC to begin strike today for three days,” Bashiru Olalekan told Afrisearch, explaining that he had no other option but to down tools. The call has been received, but we simply cannot remain idle at home any longer.
He explained that as to why they were seen around. To break the deadlock, Olalekan urged the federal government to use all its resources.
Staff member Catherine Amusan also joined the sympathy strike in solidarity with the organised workforce. A call to action was also necessary, she said, regarding the state’s local government administration.
She asserts that the local government administration in Osun State is in a state of complete paralysis. Grassroots development has halted due to the federal government’s withholding of funds intended for local government administration; prior to that situation, we were successfully managing the system.
Witness it firsthand. All primary healthcare centers, including schools, have closed. This is a really dangerous situation. During this time, the state’s public elementary and secondary schools were all ordered to close.
During a visit to public schools in Osogbo, the capital of the state, it was seen that the gates were shut and the compounds were vacant. Additionally, students from these schools were seen at home.
Baptist High School, Christ African School, Laro Grammar School, Islahudeen High School, Saint Charles Grammar School, Saint James Grammar School, School of Science, and many more were among the schools that were visited.