Oriontimes News Desk| November 1, 2026
…Insists Outstanding Allocations Should Go to Legally Recognised Council Leaderships
The World Institute for Peace (WIP) has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, against allowing partisan political interests to influence its position on the lingering local government crisis, insisting that the welfare of workers and respect for the rule of law must take precedence.
The organisation also called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to release outstanding local government allocations directly to what it described as the legitimate and legally recognised council leaderships, rather than to the Osun State Governor.
WIP made its position known in a press statement signed by its Executive Director, Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, in reaction to a recent communiqué by the Osun NLC, which issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the disputed local government allocations and threatened industrial action involving the Federal Government and United Bank for Africa (UBA).
While acknowledging the importance of protecting the salaries, pensions and allowances of local government employees, the organisation faulted the labour union's approach, arguing that its position did not sufficiently address the legal questions surrounding the leadership of the councils.
“The NLC must not be allowed to misrepresent the local government crisis in Osun,” WIP declared.
The organisation maintained that organised labour must remain neutral in politically sensitive disputes and should not disregard the rights of elected chairmen and councillors on account of their political affiliations.
It further urged the Osun NLC to reconsider its position in view of the 2025 Court of Appeal judgment delivered by the Akure Division, which it described as a critical judicial pronouncement in determining the legitimate leadership of the affected councils.
According to WIP, the Federal Government must be guided by relevant court decisions and constitutional provisions in determining the appropriate recipients of the outstanding allocations.
The group also described the threatened industrial action and proposed picketing of UBA as counterproductive, stressing that legal and administrative disagreements should be resolved through established institutional and judicial channels.
It argued that financial institutions should be allowed to operate within the boundaries of lawful directives and applicable financial regulations without being subjected to undue political pressure.
WIP consequently called on the NLC National Secretariat to intervene and ensure that its Osun State chapter does not allow partisan considerations to overshadow its fundamental responsibility of protecting workers' interests.
The organisation, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration's efforts to strengthen local government autonomy through direct funding, describing the reform as an important step towards grassroots democracy, accountability and sustainable development.
“Local government autonomy has come to stay, and every stakeholder must respect its constitutional and democratic implications,” the statement added.
WIP also urged the Osun State Government to respect the autonomy of local government councils, calling on all parties to place the interests of workers and residents above political considerations.
It warned that local government employees and residents should not be made to suffer the consequences of prolonged political and legal disagreements, insisting that outstanding allocations must not remain withheld indefinitely.
The organisation concluded by urging the Federal Government to facilitate the release of the funds without unnecessary delay, provided the disbursement complies with applicable laws and relevant judicial pronouncements.
It reiterated that workers' welfare, institutional neutrality and respect for the rule of law must remain central to resolving the lingering Osun local government crisis.
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