Recall sacked labour leaders, NLC urges Amosun

THE leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun State, has urged the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to recall the remaining four civil servants sacked over alleged infractions of the public service rules during the last October 5, World Teachers’ Day celebration.

Tribune Online recalled that 16 workers were dismissed from service and 19 suspended for their alleged partisan politics in the course of the celebration.

The 19 suspended and 12 dismissed workers were recalled by to their duty posts following appeals by concerned stakeholders.

Addressing newsmen during a roundtable dialogue as part of activities lined up to mark the 2017 May Day celebration, was the state chairman of the Union, Comrade Akeem Ambali, at Monday, in Abeokuta.

He said the step by the governor would further cement the industrial harmony between the union and government.

The remaining workers whose fate are hanging include the Ambali, Dare Ilekoya, Nola Balogun and Eniola Atiku.

Ambali flanked by other leaders of NLC described strike as the legitimate right of workers after all effort to dialogue failed, urging government to pay the October, 2016 workers’ salary it withheld for participation in a strike action as well as settle all  unremitted co-operative deductions and union dues.

He denied allegation of partisan politics levelled against him maintaining that the Union was not part of the political challenge or struggle of the state government.

The NLC boss said, “Industrial dispute is not a new thing in labour/government relationship. We are bound to disagree, fight, come back, reconcile and move forward.

The government should not mistake the labour for politicians.

“We are not part of the political challenge or struggle of the Ogun State government. We are agitators. We agitate for the collective interest of the Ogun workers. We are never political and not partisan and we don’t want to engage in politics.

“Our role and mandate is clear. Let not the people who are seeking undue patronage from government go to misinform, mislead and misdirect and pitch the government against the labour.

“Our demand is legitimate because we know that Ogun is not a poor state and all the ongoing gigantic projects in the state attest to this.

“All we are asking the government is to priories by according human capital development a special place as it is only a living worker that can walk on the roads being constructed.”

Ambali expressed confidence that the governor, would live up to his  promise by paying the withheld October, 2016 salary before May 1, saying the fulfilment of the promise, would be an indication of a clear demonstration of a sense of forgiveness and it would add more glamour to the celebration.

He said that the NLC had planned a number of activities for the celebration including Merit awards, lectures, and football competitions among others to commemorate the 2017 May Day celebration.