Local government secretariats across Osun State recorded a low turnout on Monday as workers returned to duty after observing an 11-month sit-at-home directive.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored activities in several councils, reported that only a small number of workers were present at most secretariats, amid heavy police deployment.
At the Olorunda Local Government Secretariat around 8:45 a.m., only a few staff members were seen on duty. A similar situation was observed at another council secretariat in the area, where about 30 workers were present.
Speaking with NAN, the council chairman, Mr Kunle Abdulmajid, welcomed the resumption, saying the prolonged absence of workers had stalled grassroots development.
“We are all working for the progress of the state. With the resumption of workers today, I am confident that Osun will move forward,” he said.
At Ife Central Local Government, only a handful of workers were seen within the premises, while security personnel were stationed at the gate and around the secretariat. Police officers screened workers before granting them access, though the staff declined comments, citing directives not to speak with the media.
At the Ede North Local Government Secretariat, some workers were seen cleaning their offices, while others exchanged greetings and engaged in discussions.
A staff member, Mr Kunle Ajao, expressed relief at returning to work after months of inactivity, noting that workers were committed to their duties without political interference. He also expressed hope that the protracted local government crisis would soon be resolved.
The chairman of Ede North Local Government, Mr Elliot Adeyemi, told NAN that the resumption of workers would enhance development and improve service delivery at the grassroots.
“I have been at work since February 10, 2025. It was the workers who stayed at home for the past 11 months that resumed today. The atmosphere here is calm, and no one is harassing the workers,” he said.
Adeyemi urged workers to cooperate with the council leadership, stressing that collaboration was key to meaningful development at the local government level.
NAN reports that local government administration in Osun has remained in crisis since the February 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Akure. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that the ruling did not reinstate the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, the APC maintained that the judgment restored them to office.
Following the disagreement, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) directed workers to withdraw their services from February 17, 2025, citing security concerns.
However, on December 29, 2025, the national leadership of NULGE ordered workers to resume duty from January 5, 2026. The directive was confirmed by Mr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, who said it followed extensive internal consultations.
The resumption was opposed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun. In a statement, ALGON chairman, Mr Samuel Abiodun, called on security agencies to hold Ogungbangbe responsible for any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, the police warned politicians against disrupting the resumption. The state Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Giwa-Alade Emmanuel, said the command had received intelligence reports of plans to cause unrest, adding that the police would not allow anyone to threaten peace in the state.
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