Government offices across Ogun State were on Monday hit by a wave of inactivity as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Council, directed civil and public servants to withdraw their services indefinitely.
The directive, which took effect immediately, followed a resolution reached at a general parliament of workers held in Abeokuta earlier in the day.
Workers across ministries, departments, and agencies were seen vacating their offices, leaving public institutions either completely shut or operating below capacity. The strike action signals a deepening rift between the organised labour and the state government over unresolved demands.
In an internal memo circulated among workers and seen by Tropic Reporters, the NLC said the decision to down tools was a collective mandate of the state’s workforce. The union warned that any worker who disregarded the directive would be acting at personal risk, adding that the Congress would not be held responsible for any fallout.
“Any staff who flouts this directive does so at his or her own risk,” the statement read.
Although the union did not publicly outline its full list of grievances in the circular, sources close to the labour movement cited issues ranging from unpaid deductions to stagnated promotions and lack of government engagement on key welfare matters.
Speaking anonymously, a senior labour official said, “This action was long overdue. The government has failed to address core issues affecting workers’ morale and livelihood. Until they are ready for dialogue, this strike will continue.”
The union also urged the government to act swiftly by initiating talks that could lead to a resolution.
“We expect the government to, as soon as possible, call for dialogue on the demands of the teeming workers of the state civil/public service,” the statement said.
There was no official response from the state government at the time of filing this report.
