Abeokuta — The Ogun State Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Dapo Abiodun to restore full local government administration in the state or face an indefinite strike.
The union announced the decision in a communiqué released at the end of its executive council meeting held on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The communiqué, signed by NULGE President, Adefesobi Adebayo, and other executive members, accused the Ogun State Government of undue interference in local government affairs, contrary to constitutional provisions on local government autonomy.
According to the union, the state government has failed to implement local government autonomy despite a Supreme Court ruling, resolutions of the National Assembly, and directives from President Bola Tinubu.
“The SEC-in-Session met today, 28th January, 2026, at the NULGE Secretariat, Agbeloba, Abeokuta, to review the response from the state government on the issues raised,” the statement said.
“Regrettably, it was realised that the state government neglected our demands as stipulated in the communiqué.”
NULGE said the council unanimously resolved that Governor Abiodun must address the grievances of local government workers within 14 days of the notice.
“Failure to positively respond to our agitations, the union will not be constrained to embark on industrial action at the lapse of the ultimatum on 17th February, 2026,” the communiqué added.
The union said the notice was issued in line with Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, while stressing that it remains open to dialogue with the state government.
NULGE blamed the lack of autonomy for poorly equipped offices, decaying infrastructure, and low staff morale, which it said have negatively affected service delivery at the grassroots level.
The union also threatened to withdraw from the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Ogun State Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the contributory pension scheme, alleging that the government had failed to honour its commitments.
It further accused the state government of taking over key local government revenue sources, including mobile advertisement levies, motor park and garage tickets, and tenement rates, leaving councils underfunded.
Other grievances raised include the refusal to place Heads of Local Government Administration on a consolidated salary structure, unlike their counterparts in the Ogun State civil service and neighbouring states such as Osun and Ondo.
Despite the ultimatum, the union said it remains willing to engage the state government through dialogue to resolve the dispute.
