Benue LG workers begin strike over delayed 2011/2012 staff reinstatement

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Benue State chapter, has directed council workers across the state to embark on a two-week warning strike beginning Thursday over unpaid salaries, stalled promotions and the continued delay in reinstating disengaged 2011/2012 Local Government staff.

The strike directive was contained in a notice issued after the State Executive Council meeting of the union on Wednesday, jointly signed by Joshua Adiniya, the State President and Aseneshi Yusuf, the State Secretary and obtained by BusinessDay on Thursday.

The union accused the Benue State Government of ignoring repeated ultimatums issued to address the grievances of workers.

“The union has been pushed to the wall and is left with no option than to direct all Local Government workers in Benue State to commence a two-week stay-at-home warning strike effective Thursday, May 14, 2026,” the statement read.

It further stated that all members and branch officials should ensure “full implementation and enforcement of the SEC directive for a total lockdown of the third tier of government in Benue State until further directive.”

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Prominent among the demands of the union is the reinstatement of the disengaged 2011/2012 Local Government workers who were employed during the administration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam.

BusinessDay findings showed that the affected workers were reportedly paid salaries for about seven years before their names were removed from the payroll in 2017 during the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom.

Findings further revealed that Governor Hyacinth Alia, upon assumption of office, promised to reinstate the affected workers and subsequently subjected them to two separate screening exercises.

The last screening exercise was conducted almost one year ago, yet no concrete action has been taken regarding their reinstatement.

Apart from the reinstatement demand, NULGE is also seeking the immediate payment of March and April 2026 salaries, implementation of pending promotions, resolution of issues affecting BEPCON remittances and payment of outstanding salary arrears owed to Local Government workers across the state.

Nathaniel Gbaoron

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states. He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.