Organised Labour in Ogun State has embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged non-remittance of 21 months of 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 leadership of the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Committee, declared the strike on Monday while addressing workers at the arcade ground inside Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He explained that the workers took the decision following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to Governor Dapo Abiodun over his government’s non payment of eight-year statutory leave allowances.
It would be recalled that workers in the state last week gave Governor Dapo Abiodun a seven-day ultimatum to address their demands or face workers’ wrath in the state.
They claimed that the governor had refused to pay salary deductions for 21 months.
They added that the workers have not also gotten Statutory Leave Allowances in the last eight years.
This, the labour union said, was a breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
This comes as Governor Abiodun is seeking a re-election in the Gateway state, having grabbed the sole ticket of the All Progressives Congress to vie for the 2023 governorship seat in the state for a second term if he wins.
He lamented that the government had failed to respond to over seven letters written to the government on the issue.
In his words, “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 go home.
“Having given them enough time, 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.
“There is no going back. We have given them so long rope to draw.
“It is my opinion and my conviction that Ogun State workers are saying that we should embark on a full-blown strike.
“We are embarking on an indefinite strike from 12 midnight, let all the workers stay back at home. The implication is that nobody is expected at work tomorrow.
“Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor.”
The development has been generating barrage of reactions on social media, with many knocking the governor for falling to cater for the needs of the workers in the state.
Below here are some of the reactions harvested from social media;
“Haaaa, the last time this happened in Ogun State, I can’t even remember! Dapo Abiodun should cover his face in shame.
#OgunDeservesBETTER.(@adetayo_bishop)
“Under the Watch of OMO BABA TEACHER!!! Ogun state teachers Declare strike! Civil servants should know how to appreciate this man.
#OgunDeservesBETTER,”(@Harwohyhemi1)
“It is so sad this is happening under the watch of DAPO Abiodun, Ogun state civil servants are not enjoying the dividend of democracy the voted for.
“Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun should not even think of second term ticket, things are not working as expected.
#OgunDeservesBETTER,”(@Gugu_media)
“You’ve claimed serval times that you were born and brought up by a teacher, which you’re proud of, but the teachers are going on indefinite strike under your watch.
“Teachers promotion comes with salary reduction. Dapo Abiodun is Indeed the Eleyi of Ogun state.
#OgunDeservesBETTER,”(@Ogundeji_OLA1)
“All out kids are home right now but Dapo is chilling in Abuja and might just be returning to the state spending our money to fly jet and yet refuse to answer the workers under him. #OgunDeservesBETTER,”(@mosky101)
