Bamidele Salam, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, has criticised the Nigeria Police over its handling of incidents involving local government staff in Osun State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the 5th of January, 2026, Salam condemned what he described as the “harassment, detention and public humiliation” of Taiwo Adebayo, an administrative staff member of Egbedore Local Government Council. He described the police involvement as unconstitutional.
Reports indicate that Adebayo was allegedly caught attempting to remove files containing official documents from the council secretariat. He was apprehended at the secretariat gate and handed over to the police for further investigation.
However, Salam argued that his “findings showed that Adebayo was on lawful duty following a directive by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, to resume work after an eleven month strike.” He added that “the staff member was detained in the presence of police officers while processing retirement files for local government workers.”
The lawmaker further accused former council chairman Issa Akinwale, whom he said had been removed by court rulings, of overseeing the incident with police support. He called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw officers from illegal duties at council secretariats and ensure strict compliance with court judgments.
Salam warned that continued police involvement in partisan political activities at the local government level “posed risks to democracy, judicial authority and citizens’ rights in Osun State.”
Similarly, Felicia Olaojo, a staff member of Boluwaduro Local Government Council, was reportedly arrested by security operatives while in possession of government properties. A statement by Sahedd Omokanye, media assistant to the Executive Chairman of the council, said Olaojo was intercepted while allegedly trying to smuggle official documents and items out of the secretariat through the perimeter fence.
“She has since been taken to a police station for further interrogation and investigation,” the statement added.
Earlier reports highlighted that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State had threatened industrial action in response to alleged police harassment of its members at local government secretariats. Speaking at the state government’s 2026 annual prayer event in Abere, NLC Chairman Christopher Arapasopo condemned the alleged treatment of labour staff.
“The development is unacceptable for the police to be involved in such disgraceful acts. Our members have done nothing wrong and this harassment should stop without delay,” he said.
Arapasopo also alleged public humiliation of labour members, noting, “We have seen videos and pictures of our members being forced to kneel down. We condemn this conduct and call on the police to release them.”
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to destabilise the state, adding, “The APC is pushing to plunge Osun into crisis. We will resist legally and lawfully and we will not tolerate ongoing harassment of our people at the local government level.”
In response, the Osun State Police Command neither confirmed nor denied the alleged arrests, with Police Public Relations Officer Abiodun Ojelabi stating,
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“Regarding the arrest of staff, I don’t have any report yet on that, but anyone coming to the council to cause trouble, be it politician or otherwise, will not be tolerated.”
The incident also drew criticism from the Osun APC, with Director of Media and Information Kola Olabisi, speaking on behalf of party chairman Tajudeen Lawal, expressing concern over “the alleged misuse of court processes to paralyse local government administration in the state.”
The controversy follows the resumption of NULGE workers on Monday, the 5th of January, 2026, after an eleven-month strike that began on the 17th of February, 2025.
The strike had been triggered by deadly clashes between supporters of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over control of local government secretariats.
The violence reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities, including Remi Abass, an APC stalwart in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Council.