The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has threatened a three-day warning strike in Abia State over prolonged non-payment of salaries, salary arrears and promotion benefits owed to local government workers.
The union issued the warning in a letter dated September 21, 2026, and signed by its General Secretary, Gambo Isah, which was addressed to the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
NULGE said 114 local government employees had gone without salaries for almost three years despite efforts by the affected workers to complete verification and resolve their employment status.
According to the union, 92 of the 114 workers had completed the required verification exercise but remained unpaid, while 22 were still awaiting verification.
It added that more than 251 other workers who had undergone verification had received only partial salary payments, leaving accumulated arrears outstanding.
The union also raised concerns over the alleged non-payment of November and December 2020 salaries to local government employees.
NULGE said the outstanding payments were particularly concerning because, according to the union, similar salary obligations involving workers in other ministries, departments and agencies had been addressed.
Another major issue cited by the union was the failure to implement promotions earned by local government employees since 2021.
NULGE said the delay had deprived workers of the financial benefits attached to their career progression.
The union said it had exercised considerable patience and repeatedly engaged the relevant authorities through dialogue in an effort to prevent industrial action.
It argued that affected workers had complied with verification and other administrative requirements imposed by the government, but that the issues remained unresolved.
“Workers should not be compelled to continue bearing the consequences of delays that are beyond their control, particularly after complying with all verification and administrative requirements placed before them,” the union said.
NULGE gave the Abia State Government until September 30, 2026, to address the outstanding salary and promotion issues.
It urged the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to urgently engage the Abia State Local Government Service Commission and the Office of the Accountant-General to resolve the disputes and provide a definite implementation timeline.
The union warned that failure to achieve “substantial compliance” by the deadline would trigger industrial action.
It said the Abia State Council had already contemplated a three-day warning strike from October 5 to 7, 2026, subject to further directives from the union.
“We must respectfully state that the Union cannot continue to guarantee industrial harmony in the absence of concrete action on these longstanding demands,” NULGE said.
The union, however, said it hoped the dispute would be resolved without a strike, stressing its willingness to continue discussions with the state government.
It appealed to the commissioner to treat the matter as one of “urgent industrial and humanitarian importance” and use his office to facilitate a prompt resolution.
NULGE said the prolonged withholding of workers’ earned wages and entitlements was placing increasing pressure on industrial relations in the state, while reiterating its commitment to peaceful engagement.
