Benue State local government workers disrupted operations in all 23 local government councils on Thursday by starting a two-week warning strike over unpaid wages, delayed promotions, and unsettled pension remittances.
The Benue State branch of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) issued an additional seven working days’ warning to Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration following the expiration of an earlier 14-day ultimatum.
The union accused the state administration of ignoring ongoing welfare issues impacting council workers in a notice dated May 13, 2026, which was signed by State President Joshua Adah Adiniya and State Secretary Aseneshi Musa Yusuf.
Before launching this action, the union had explored every avenue for communication, according to the paper labelled “Notification of Strike Action.”
The union said, “Unfortunately, the Benue State Government has remained adamant and ignored all the opportunities offered by the union to resolve these disputes and avert the consequences.”
Among their demands are the prompt settlement of wage arrears for March and April of 2026, the execution of past-due promotions, the resolution of BEPCON remittance concerns, the reinstatement of local government employees who were disengaged in 2011 and 2012, and the payment of accumulated unpaid salaries.
In a meeting on April 21, 2026, NULGE’s State Executive Council decided to put further pressure on the government to act quickly, but they lamented the lack of a significant reaction.
The statement went on to say, “The union has been pushed to the wall and is left with no option,” directing all council employees to go on a two-week warning strike that will begin on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The union described the action as “a total lockdown of the third tier of government in Benue State until further directive” and instructed members in all 23 local government areas to fully cooperate.
Local government chairmen, divisional police officers, heads of the Department of State Services within the councils, and the Nigeria Labour Congress chapter in Benue State were also given copies of the strike notice.