Civil servants embark on indefinite strike in Ogun

Workers in Ogun state have embarked on indefinite strike over refusal of the state government to settle their 21 months salary deductions and non challant attitude to workers’ welfare.

The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Committee, declared the strike while addressing workers at the State Secretariat in Abeokuta, on Monday.

The strike followed the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Organised Labour to Governor Dapo Abiodun, over the government’s inability to pay 21 months deductions, non payment of eight years statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) and the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme amongst other demands.

The workers berated Abiodun for failing to honour the agreement contained in the Memorandum of Understanding in 2020.

The Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, said the strike became necessary following several failed attempts to meet the governor over their plights.

He said the government had failed to respond to over seven letters written to by the unions on the issue.

Bankole who was flanked by the Chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi and the Chairman of JNC, Isa Olude directed all civil servants to stay away from work from Tuesday.

According to him, the strike which will take effect from 12a.m Tuesday will be indefinite , declaring that there is no going back until their demands are met by the governor.

“We are here today to take our destiny in our own hands. The leadership is ready. We must start a new beginning, we must tell them (government) that we are workers and we are not slaves. The time is now, a stop must be put to this.

“Our future and the future of the workers of Ogun state is in great jeopardy. Governance is a serious business and whoever that is not ready for it, I think it is time we tell such person to go home.

“Having given them enough time but they are so busy to attend to us, maybe if we go home for some time, they will have time to attend to our matter.

“Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor,” Bankole said.