The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State has declared a seven-day warning strike over the alleged non-payment of salaries of more than 500 workers in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The strike directive, which takes effect from today (Tuesday), is expected to ground activities in all the 23 local government councils of the state.
The crisis began last week when affected workers stormed the Emuoha council secretariat to protest what they described as their “illegal removal” from the council’s payroll.
The aggrieved workers accused the council chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, of unlawfully sacking them, insisting they would sustain their demonstrations until their names were reinstated and their salaries paid.
The development was reported to the state leadership of NULGE, which subsequently escalated the matter.
In a statement issued on Monday and titled “Notice of Strike Action,” the Rivers State NULGE directed its members across the state to withdraw their services for seven days.
The statement, signed by the State NULGE President, Sunday Adeniran, read: “The State leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Rivers State Chapter, hereby notifies you that the State Executive Council of the union, at its meeting held on 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 hereby directed to withdraw their services until further notice.
“This action has become necessary in view of the callous and unfair action of the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area in denying our members their salaries. We count on your cooperation and solidarity in ensuring full compliance with this directive.”
Adeniran said the strike was the only option left for the union in the face of what it described as injustice and unfair treatment.
Council Chairman Denies Allegations
But in a swift reaction, the Emuoha council chairman, Dr Lloyd, dismissed the allegations, describing them as blackmail.
According to him, all “genuine staff” of the council had been duly paid their entitlements.
“They (NULGE) are complaining about people whose names were smuggled into the payroll,” Lloyd said.
“In 2024, the staff strength was about 1,000 and some fractions, but when we came back, the staff strength had jumped to 1,600, and there was no employment.”