Civil society organisations have called on President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other relevant institutions to investigate allegations of political victimisation of local government workers in Osun State following the 2026 governorship election.
The organisations, the Nigeria Peace and Security Advancement Network (NPSAN) and the Local Government Development Initiative (LGDI), alleged that some council workers faced suspension and other administrative actions over claims that they did not support or vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The groups made the call at a joint press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Represented by Abigi Joshua, assistant secretary of NPSAN, and Musa Godiya, assistant publicity secretary of LGDI, the group cited reported suspension letters issued to leaders and some members of a group known as Concerned NULGE in Osun State, expressing concern that the actions could raise questions about workers’ rights and freedom of political choice.
The organisations, however, stressed that the allegations required thorough investigation, adding that disciplinary measures against public servants should be based on established misconduct and applicable regulations rather than their political affiliations or preferences.
“We emphasise that allegations, no matter how serious and strong, require a proper investigation,” they said.
They called on Tinubu to ensure that constitutional democracy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights were upheld in the state.
The groups also urged the NLC to monitor the situation and ensure that workers were not subjected to unlawful discrimination or punishment because of their political choices.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intervene and ensure that the allegations are independently and transparently investigated,” they said.
They further appealed to the national headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to review the reported suspensions and safeguard the labour and constitutional rights of its members.
The National Human Rights Commission was also urged to investigate any credible complaints of intimidation, discrimination or violations of fundamental rights arising from the matter.
The organisations called on the Osun State Government to exercise restraint and review the circumstances surrounding the reported suspension letters, insisting that any disciplinary proceedings must comply with established rules and due process.
They acknowledged that public authorities had the right to investigate genuine misconduct and impose lawful sanctions where violations were established.
However, they argued that political preferences, voting choices, lawful associations and peaceful expressions of political opinions should not, in themselves, constitute grounds for administrative punishment.
The groups said their intervention was not intended to support any political party or candidate but to promote constitutionalism, protect workers’ rights and uphold democratic freedoms.
They warned that alleged political retaliation against public servants could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot be strengthened if citizens are made to fear losing their jobs because of how they vote,” they said.
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