The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has threatened to commence a three-day warning strike in Abia State over alleged 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, Comrade Gambo Isah, addressed to the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The letter, titled “Urgent Demand For Immediate Resolution Of Outstanding Salaries, Salary Arrears And Promotion Implementation For Local Government Employees In Abia State,” called for immediate government intervention to resolve the outstanding obligations.
NULGE alleged that 114 local government employees in Abia State had remained without salaries for almost three years, despite efforts by the affected workers and the authorities to verify their employment status and resolve the matter.
According to the union, 92 of the 114 affected workers had completed the required verification process but were still unpaid, while the remaining 22 workers were awaiting verification.
The union further disclosed that more than 251 local government employees who had undergone verification had received only partial salary payments, leaving accumulated arrears outstanding.
NULGE also raised concerns over the alleged non-payment of November and December 2020 salaries to local government employees, despite claims that similar salary obligations owed to workers in other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) had been addressed.
Another major grievance highlighted by the union was the alleged failure to implement promotions earned by local government employees since 2021.
NULGE said the delay had deprived affected workers of the financial benefits attached to their career progression and left them carrying the consequences of administrative delays despite having fulfilled the requirements placed before them.
“Honourable Commissioner, these are not merely administrative issues; they directly affect the livelihood, dignity and welfare of hardworking Local Government employees who have continued to discharge their responsibilities to the State under difficult circumstances,” the union stated.
The union said it had exercised “considerable patience” and repeatedly engaged relevant authorities through dialogue in an effort to resolve the issues and preserve industrial peace.
According to NULGE, affected workers had also complied with verification requirements imposed by the authorities, but the outstanding salary and promotion matters had nevertheless remained unresolved.
The union warned that the prolonged withholding of workers’ earned wages and entitlements was undermining its ability to guarantee industrial harmony in the state.
“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,” NULGE said.
NULGE gave the Abia State Government until September 30, 2026, to resolve the outstanding salary and promotion issues.
The union specifically 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 timeline for implementation.
It warned that failure to achieve “substantial compliance” with its demands by the deadline would result in industrial action.
“We must respectfully state that the Union cannot continue to guarantee industrial harmony in the absence of concrete action on these longstanding demands,” the union said.
“Failure to achieve substantial compliance by 30th September, 2026 will leave the Union with no option but to activate the industrial action already contemplated by the Abia State Council, commencing with a three-day warning strike from 5th to 7th October, 2026, subject to further directives of the Union.”
Despite the warning, NULGE said it hoped the dispute would not escalate into a strike and expressed its readiness to continue discussions with the Abia State Government.
The union appealed to the commissioner to treat the matter as one of “urgent industrial and humanitarian importance” and use his authority to facilitate a prompt resolution.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over the payment of local government workers and the implementation of their statutory employment benefits in Abia State.
NULGE maintained that it remained committed to peaceful engagement but warned that prolonged delays in paying workers their earned wages and entitlements could no longer be sustained indefinitely.