RismadarVoice Reporters
August 10, 2026
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman in Osun State, Christopher Arapasopo, has urged that civil servants and other residents should not be intimidated before or during Saturday’s governorship election.
Arapasopo made the call on Monday at a joint congress of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) held at the entrance of the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere.
He said organised labour had been monitoring developments surrounding the election and urged workers to exercise their civic responsibilities without fear or intimidation.
The labour leader also defended the Osun State Government’s recent payment of N20,000 to civil servants, dismissing allegations that the payment amounted to vote-buying.
According to him, the payment followed a request by organised labour for palliatives to cushion the economic difficulties facing workers and pensioners in the state.
Arapasopo explained that labour leaders had written to Governor Ademola Adeleke on April 8, requesting financial assistance for workers and pensioners.
He said subsequent discussions with the government led to an agreement for the payment of N10,000 each to workers and pensioners, with labour representatives later requesting that payments covering June and July be made.
He said allegations of vote-buying circulated on social media, which he attributed to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were misplaced because the payment was initiated following a request from organised labour.
“The labour leaders were the ones that requested palliatives for workers to cushion the effects of economic troubles in the country, of which Osun State is not an exception,” he said.
The NLC chairman said the joint congress was also intended to warn political parties against any attempt to intimidate civil servants, pensioners or other residents of the state during the election.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to caution the Osun APC and urged all political actors to allow residents to freely exercise their democratic rights.
“The governorship election should not be war. We as workers and pensioners of Osun State have every right to vote for whosoever pleases us.
“No worker must be intimidated, no harassment of anybody, and not to talk of any citizen of Osun State,” he said.
Arapasopo also called on the international community to closely monitor the election, while urging security agencies to remain professional and impartial.
“We are appealing that this election should be free and fair. We are appealing to the international community to switch on their searchlight on Osun State.
“The Police should do their work. Their work is to protect sides and not taking side,” he added.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with the Independent National Electoral Commission having cleared 14 political parties to participate in the poll.
