The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers State Chapter, has declared a seven-day warning strike following the alleged non-payment of salaries to over 500 workers in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The affected employees had, last week, staged a protest at the Emuoha council secretariat, alleging that their names had been unlawfully removed from the council’s payroll, effectively cutting them off from receiving their due wages. The protesters accused the Emuoha Council Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, of illegally terminating their appointments and vowed to continue demonstrating until their names were reinstated.
The matter was subsequently escalated to the state leadership of NULGE, prompting swift action from the union.
In a statement issued on Monday and titled “Notice of Strike Action,” the state chapter of NULGE directed all its members across the 23 local government areas of the state to withdraw their services beginning Tuesday, 1st October 2025. The directive was contained in a letter signed by the state NULGE President, Sunday Adeniran, and addressed to all state offices, branch chairmen, and council branches of the union.
Adeniran stated that the decision to embark on industrial action was necessitated by what he described as the “callous and unfair” conduct of the Emuoha council chairman in denying legitimate workers their salaries.
The statement read in part:
“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.”
In response, Dr Chidi Lloyd dismissed the allegations, maintaining that all legitimate employees of the council had been duly paid. He further accused the union leadership of attempting to blackmail his administration.
“They (NULGE) are complaining about people whose names were smuggled into the payroll,” Dr 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.”
As the strike action takes effect, local government operations across Rivers State are expected to be severely impacted, with the union insisting that the protest will continue until the affected workers are reinstated and their salaries paid.
