Local government workers in Osun State, have rejected the 72-hour ultimatum issued to them to resume work amid the political tension between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress.

BEYOND AFRICA reports that a chieftain of the APC, Jamiu Olawumi, while giving an update on the local government issue on Monday, said the reinstated chairmen had ordered the local government staff who have been asked to stay away from work by the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress since last week Monday to resume back within 72 hours or have their job determined.

But the NLC leadership on Monday rejected the ultimatum, saying workers would not resume.

The chairperson of NLC in the state, Christopher Arapasopo, in a statement sent to The Punch, said workers in the state would not intimidated by anyone.

Arapasopo said, “We directed our members to withdraw their services last week, Monday, 27th January 2025, due to the political uproar bringing agitations and fear among our members working within the local government across Osun State.

“We cannot allow workers to be working in an atmosphere of insecurity. If not because we moved into action by directing our members at the local government to withdraw their services last week when some unscrupulous elements forcefully broke into the Secretariat, which that action led to the crisis, what happened at the local government would have been more disastrous.

“As organised labour movement in the Osun State, we cannot watch our members be victims of any crisis at all. Their safety at work is highly important. A directive was also given today to affirm our earlier release, notifying all the local government workers that the earlier directive given to withdraw their services as a result of political upheaval within their workplaces still subsists while they continue to pray for the State from their various homes, because their safety is our priority.

“The sacked chairmen lack the power to intimidate, threaten, and instruct our members to resume work. We will not be intimidated by any desperate attempts to silence us. We urge all political parties and their members to abide by the rule of law. We insist on the rule of law to avoid a descent to anarchy.

“Osun State NLC, TUC, and JNC remain resolute in our commitment to defending the rights and interests of Workers, Pensioners, and the entire populace .”