ABEOKUTA – Organized labour in Ogun State on Monday directed every civil servants to proceed on indefinite strike from Tuesday.
The announcement follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the state government.
The workers accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of non-remittance of 21 months salary deductions, non payment of eight years statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, non-implementation of the statutory consequential adjustment of 33.3% by Section 173 (subsection 3) of the 1999 constitution as amended; decrease in the grossly inadequate 500 million naira quarterly release to clear the backlog of gratuities which has amounted to a whooping ₦68billion amongst other demands.
The labour leaders declared the strike action at a rally jointly addressed by the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) at held at State Arcade ground of the governor’s office.
They maintained that, there is no going back until all demands are met by Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government.
The strike which takes effect from 12am on Tuesday, would affect ministries, agencies, hospitals and public schools.
The union had last week given Governor Dapo Abiodun seven days to address their demands or face an industrial action.
Their grievances were contained in a letter dated June 21 and addressed to Governor Abiodun.
The letter was jointly signed by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Bankole; Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Akeem Lasisi and the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Isa Olude.
The Organized labour maintain that, any civil servant who report for duty tomorrow is a traitor.
Addressing the mammoth civil servants at the arcade ground, the NLC Chairman in Ogun State, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole said following the expiration of the ultimatum, the labour leaders agreed to embark on indefinite strike.
The NLC Chairman said the government had failed to yield to labour’s several calls for negotiation.
Bankole said the indefinite strike action would allow the government have a rethink and call for a dialogue over the industrial dispute.
“It is no longer news that workers in Ogun state are tensed up, restless, agitated because they are frustrated; all of which are ominous signs of the collapse of productivity.
“The leadership of the organized Labour is being inundated with the barrage of criticism, insults, attacks and acrimonious comments from workers across the state.
“We were being accused of colluding with the Government to shortchange and betray our colleagues. You saw us as traitors, conspirators, enemies of workers but friends of Government.
“I must tell you that on our part as the leadership, we were only trying to be partners in progress with the government but it now seems our decisions to be democratic and diplomatic are injurious to our integrity before you whose interest and welfare are the core reasons why we are in office.
“The failure of this government to fulfil its financial obligations towards us has pitched the leadership against you as we are fast losing your trust and confidence in us. Fortunately, the present leadership is peopled by men and women of proven integrity who would never sell out workers for a plate of porridge.
“The leadership have made several consultations with the government and we have consolidated the consultation by writing several letters, all to no avail. We have no other option but to use constitutional means through the declaration of a trade dispute.
“It is absurd to note that educated minds, like ours, in this 21st century still carry the notion that it is criminal for Union Leaders to interact with political office holders in areas that will do members much good. People are fast to cast aspersion and cooking up stories and lies when in actual fact they have mischief at the back of their minds. Let us rise above mundane reasoning and raise the bar. If we don’t represent ourselves, we stand the risk of being misrepresented.
“Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor,” Bankole said
