The Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has declared a seven-day warning strike over the alleged non-payment of salaries to more than 500 workers in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The affected employees had last week protested at the Emuoha council secretariat, accusing the council chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, of unlawfully removing their names from the payroll and denying them their wages. They vowed to continue the demonstrations until they were reinstated.
In response, the union’s state leadership issued a statement on Monday directing its members across the 23 local government areas to down tools beginning Tuesday, October 1. The statement, titled Notice of Strike Action, was signed by the state NULGE president, Sunday Adeniran.
Adeniran said the union was compelled to act due to what he described as the “callous and unfair” treatment of the affected workers.
The statement read: “The State Executive Council of NULGE, Rivers State, at its meeting of 29th September 2025, resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike. Accordingly, effective from midnight of 30th September 2025, all local government employees across the state are directed to withdraw their services until further notice.”
But reacting to the development, Dr. Lloyd dismissed the allegations, insisting that every genuine staff member had been paid. He claimed the protest was fuelled by the union in defense of individuals who were wrongly inserted into the payroll.
“In 2024, the staff strength was a little above 1,000, but when we returned, the number had risen to 1,600 without any formal recruitment. That is what we are addressing,” the chairman said.
The standoff has heightened tensions between the union and the council, with workers awaiting further directives from NULGE’s state leadership.
