The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Christopher Arapasopo, on Monday demanded an immediate end to what he described as the serial arrest of workers within the premises of local government secretariats across the state.
Although the Osun State Police Command did not confirm the arrest of any staff, sources within the All Progressives Congress in the state said between two and three local government workers were apprehended while allegedly attempting to smuggle documents out of council secretariats.
The suspects were reportedly arrested at the Boluwaduro Local Government headquarters in Otan Ayegbaju and the Egbedore Local Government Secretariat in Awo, Osun State, shortly after workers who had been on strike for nearly 11 months resumed duty across the state.
Pictures and videos purportedly showing the arrested workers alongside documents allegedly found in their possession were also circulated on social media on Monday.
Speaking at the 2026 annual prayer event organised by the Osun State Government at the Government Secretariat in Abere, Arapasopo vowed that organised labour would embark on industrial action if the alleged harassment did not stop immediately.
The NLC chairman said reports from local government areas indicated that “the police are actively supporting some politicians to parade and humiliate local government workers,” adding that “it is unacceptable for the police to be involved in such disgraceful acts.”
He said workers should not be criminalised for complying with public service rules at their workplaces, noting, “Our members have done nothing wrong, and this harassment must stop without delay.”
(Punch)
