A brewing confrontation between the Ondo State government and labour unions in the state is intensifying over the planned demolition of the Alagbaka Government Staff Quarters in Akure. The controversy surrounds the government’s redevelopment project and its alleged impact on hundreds of civil servants who live in the quarters.
While the government argues that the redevelopment of the Alagbaka quarters is part of a broader urban renewal initiative aimed at modernizing the area, labour leaders are accusing the state government of unjustly displacing workers without any clear plan for their resettlement or compensation. The disagreement has escalated, with both sides taking a firm stance on the issue.
The Alagbaka Government Staff Quarters has served as a significant residential area for civil servants in Akure for over three decades. The housing estate, which consists of 69 bungalows and 16 office units, is situated on 31.3 hectares of land and was developed more than 30 years ago. However, over time, the buildings have become dilapidated, and the state government has emphasized the need for redevelopment in line with modern urban standards.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, Engr. Ayorinde Abiola Olawoye, stated that the structures have not been significantly renovated in decades, leaving them substandard, unsafe, and unsuitable for modern habitation. Olawoye explained that the government’s plan is not just to demolish the quarters but to redevelop the land into a modern urban housing estate as part of the state’s broader Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Optimization Plan.
According to the state government, the current residents of the quarters, many of whom are believed to have sublet their apartments to others at high rates, represent less than one percent of the state’s workforce. Olawoye further argued that the project was in the best interests of the people, noting that the current buildings were no longer suitable for their intended use. He also emphasized that the government was engaging with labour leaders to ensure that affected workers would be taken care of in the course of the redevelopment.
However, labour unions in the state, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), have strongly opposed the government’s plan. In a statement issued by the unions, they condemned the state government for what they described as “a cheap lie” and a “deliberate attempt to paint workers as profiteers.” They rejected the government’s explanation for the demolition, labelling it as misinformation intended to justify the forced eviction of civil servants from their homes.
The unions, led by NLC Chairman Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji, TUC Chairman Comrade Fatuase Clement, and JNC Chairman Comrade Segun Ajiboye, accused the state government of “land grabbing” and unnecessarily displacing hundreds of civil servants. They argued that the government’s claims about workers subletting the quarters at exorbitant rates were unsubstantiated and malicious.
The labour leaders also criticized the government for failing to provide a clear resettlement or compensation plan for the affected workers. They emphasized that many civil servants in the Alagbaka quarters had been living there for years, and displacing them without any alternative housing options was unjust, particularly in the face of rising economic challenges, including high food prices and housing shortages.
“We challenge the Special Adviser to publish verifiable evidence to support his wild and defamatory allegations,” the unions said in their statement. “It is disturbing that in a time when citizens—including government workers—are battling economic hardship, what the government considers a priority is an eviction plan disguised as urban renewal.”
The labour leaders also took issue with Olawoye’s statement that less than one percent of the state’s workforce resides in the quarters, calling it condescending and dismissive of the workers’ dignity. “Since when did the number of people affected determine the worth of their dignity?” the unions asked. They also criticized the government for failing to engage with the unions in a meaningful way, accusing the state of treating the labour force with disregard.
The unions expressed their commitment to resisting any attempts to force civil servants onto the streets. They pledged to stand in solidarity with every affected worker and their families and to oppose any actions that they perceive as oppressive or harmful to the welfare of workers.
“We will resist all forms of oppression, humiliation, and disregard for the welfare of workers under any guise,” the unions said. “An attack on one worker is an attack on all.”
In response to the labour leaders’ criticisms, the state government has reiterated its stance that the redevelopment of the Alagbaka quarters is necessary for the state’s urban transformation. Olawoye stressed that the project aligns with global best practices and is part of the state government’s long-term vision for sustainable infrastructure development.
He also highlighted that the government was not acting unilaterally but had made efforts to engage with labour unions to address the concerns of the affected workers. According to Olawoye, the government’s priority is to create a modern housing estate that reflects the aspirations of a 21st-century Ondo State.
“This project is a strategic component of the state’s Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Optimization Plan,” he said. “It is not only a reconstruction effort but a complete transformation of the area into a modern urban housing estate.”
The government also defended its position on the issue of eviction, rejecting claims that the redevelopment project would leave civil servants homeless. Olawoye insisted that the state was taking steps to ensure that those affected by the demolition would be adequately compensated and supported throughout the process.
“The claim that government is rendering civil servants homeless is a deliberate falsehood designed to stoke public sentiment against a project that is clearly in the best interest of the people,” Olawoye said. “This project will stand as a legacy project, free from political manipulation, rooted in transparency, and executed with professional excellence.”
As the situation continues to unfold, both the state government and labour leaders appear entrenched in their positions. The disagreement has sparked a broader conversation about the balance between urban development and workers’ rights, as well as the role of labour unions in influencing government decisions.
With the unions vowing to resist any attempt to force civil servants from their homes without compensation, the state government faces mounting pressure to clarify its plans for those affected by the demolition. In the coming weeks, further negotiations and public discussions are likely as both sides continue to advocate for their positions.
