?Organised labour in Osun State has threatened to deny President Bola Tinubu the support and votes of workers, pensioners and their families in the 2027 general election over the continued withholding of statutory allocations due to local government councils in the state.
?The labour movement stated that it could no longer guarantee the votes of its members and their dependants for the president’s re-election while local government workers continued to suffer the consequences of the prolonged allocation crisis.
?Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state chairman Christopher Arapasopo made the position known on Monday in Osogbo after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the federal and state governments to resolve the dispute over local government funds, which it said had been withheld since February 2025.
?Labour demands immediate release of allocations
?’The Organised Labour considers it necessary to make its political position clear. For now, the Organised Labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’
?’This position arises from the continued withholding of local government allocations and the attendant hardship imposed on workers, pensioners and our dependents. We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering!’
?’We are aware of Mr Governor’s commitment to supporting the President’s re-election. However, the interests and welfare of workers, pensioners and our dependents must take precedence over individual political preferences.’
?The labour leader maintained that the union’s loyalty was first and foremost to the working class and the people it represented, stressing that political support was neither automatic nor unconditional but must be earned through policies and actions that protected workers’ welfare and dignity.
?Ultimatum and call for dialogue
?He demanded the immediate release of all outstanding statutory allocations due to Osun local government councils, the discontinuation of further payments into what it described as illegal United Bank for Africa (UBA) accounts, the protection of workers’ salaries and other entitlements, and a permanent resolution of the local government financial crisis.
?While acknowledging that industrial action could disrupt public services and inconvenience residents, the unions appealed for public understanding, insisting that their struggle was not against the people of Osun State but for the economic survival of workers and pensioners.
?They, however, expressed readiness for genuine dialogue, maintaining that industrial peace could only be achieved through justice and respect for workers’ rights.