Benue LG workers begin two-week strike over unpaid salaries
Benue State Local Government Employees Begin Strike Over Wage Issues
Benue State, Nigeria — Local government employees in Benue State commenced a two-week warning strike on Thursday, citing unpaid wages, delayed promotions, and unresolved pension remittances. The action has affected operations across all 23 local government councils in the state.
The strike follows the expiration of a previous 14-day ultimatum and an additional seven working days’ notice issued to the state government by the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
In a notification dated May 13, 2026, and signed by State President Joshua Adah Adiniya and State Secretary Aseneshi Musa Yusuf, the union accused the government of neglecting ongoing welfare issues impacting council workers.
The notice, titled “Notification of Strike Action,” emphasized that the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue prior to initiating the strike.
“Unfortunately, the Benue State Government has remained unresponsive to the opportunities provided by the union to resolve these disputes and avert the consequences,” the statement read.
The union’s demands include immediate payment of salary arrears for March and April 2026, the implementation of overdue promotions, resolution of pension remittance issues, the reinstatement of local government employees let go in 2011 and 2012, and the payment of accumulated outstanding salaries.
At a meeting on April 21, 2026, NULGE’s State Executive Council had agreed to escalate pressure on the government for prompt action but noted that no substantial response was received.
“The union has been compelled to take this action and has no alternative,” the notice continued, instructing council workers to maintain a stay-at-home strike that began on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The union further directed members across all 23 local government areas to fully comply with the strike, describing it as a “total lockdown of the third tier of government in Benue State until further notice.”
Copies of the strike notification have also been sent to local government chairmen, divisional police officers, heads of the Department of State Services, and the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
