(Protesting LG workers. Photo by punch News)
Local government workers across all 23 councils in Benue State commenced a two-week warning strike on Thursday, May 14, 2026, over unresolved grievances including unpaid salaries, long-overdue promotions, and outstanding pension remittances, bringing operations at the third tier of government in the state to a standstill.
The strike was declared by the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), following the expiration of two prior notices a 14-day ultimatum and a subsequent seven working days’ warning served on Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration without any meaningful response.
In a strike notice dated May 13, 2026, and signed by State President Joshua Adah Adiniya and State Secretary Aseneshi Musa Yusuf, the union expressed deep frustration over what it described as the government’s persistent refusal to address the welfare concerns of council workers despite repeated attempts at dialogue.
The union stated that it had exhausted all available channels of engagement before arriving at the decision to strike.
Among the specific demands raised by NULGE are the immediate payment of salary arrears for March and April 2026, execution of long-pending staff promotions, resolution of issues surrounding BEPCON pension remittances, reinstatement of local government workers disengaged in 2011 and 2012, and settlement of accumulated outstanding salaries owed to members.
The union noted that its State Executive Council had, at a meeting on April 21, 2026, resolved to step up pressure on the government, but regretted that no meaningful action followed.
Describing itself as having been pushed to the wall, NULGE instructed all council workers across the state to remain at home for the duration of the two-week action, characterizing the strike as a total lockdown of local government operations in Benue State pending further directives.
Copies of the strike notice were distributed to local government chairmen, divisional police officers, Department of State Services heads within the councils, and the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
