Ogun worker declares indefinite strike over salary deductions

The organised Labour in Ogun State on Monday declared an indefinite strike over the “pathetic plight” of workers in the state.

The strike which takes effect from 12am today, 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 industrial action.

According to Newsmen, the workers, in a June 21 letter, accused Abiodun of non-remittance of 21 months’ salary deductions, eight years of unpaid statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

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.

Following the expiration of the ultimatum, the labour leaders on Monday afternoon addressed workers at the Arcade ground at the state secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, where they declared an 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 to rethink and call for a dialogue over the industrial dispute.

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