Local government activities across Benue State have been paralysed following a directive by workers under the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to embark on a two-week warning strike over unpaid salaries and unresolved welfare issues.
The strike action, which commenced yesterday, effectively shut down councils across the state as workers withdrew their services in protest.
The union said the decision became necessary after what it described as continued neglect of its demands by the state government.
In a statement issued after its State Executive Council meeting in Makurdi, signed by the state president, Joshua Adah Adiniya, and Comrade Adeneshi Musa Yusuf for the state secretary, NULGE recalled that it had earlier engaged the government over a series of demands affecting local government workers in the state.
The union explained that during its meeting on 21st April, 2025, it formally requested the state government “to unconditionally pay outstanding salaries for March and April 2026, implement all pending promotions of local government staff, resolve challenges affecting BEPCON remittances, reinstate disengaged workers from 2011/2012, and clear all accumulated salary arrears to local government employees”
According to the union, an initial 14-day ultimatum was issued to the government to address the issues. When there was no decisive response, the State Executive Council reconvened on 7th May, 2026 and granted an additional seven working days as a final window for compliance and to avoid industrial action.
NULGE, however, said the extension did not yield any positive outcome, alleging that the state government failed to take steps to resolve the lingering crisis within the period provided.
As a result, the union directed all local government workers in Benue State to commence a full withdrawal of services for two weeks in what it described as a “stay-at-home” action.
“Sequel to this directive, you are all enjoined to ensure the full implementation and enforcement of the SEC directive for a total lockdown o f the third tier of Local Government in Benue State until further directive, please, “the statement said.
The shutdown has already disrupted administrative activities across local councils, with residents and staff reporting empty offices and suspended services.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an official response from the Benue State Government were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.