#WorkersDay: Amosun pardons three sacked labour leaders

The Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration, held on Monday, at the MKO Abiola Stadium pardoned three out of four labour leaders sacked last October, over their alleged misconduct during the 2016 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

Those pardoned were the immediate past state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Dare Ilekoya, Nola Balogun and Eniola Atiku.

Tribune Online recalled that Ambali had approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos, over his disengagement from the state service.

The governor said, “We are not in any way interested in punishing anybody. Procedures must be followed. We have been talked to on a daily basis by our leaders and elders in the state.

“We have been told that we have four, but three of them have been compulsorily retired and the reason is this, one of them has gone to court. Once you are in court, we are forbidden and cannot make any pronouncement on any matter that is in court.

“In the meantime, those under plea, Dare Ilekoya, Nola Balogun and Eniola Atiku, have been pardoned and they have been compulsorily retired with full benefits.”

The governor in his address said his administration is running round to ensure that the backlogs of deduction owed workers are paid as soon as the Federal Government comes to the aid of the states again.

“I want to assure you that we will pay the deductions, which is running to a year. We will use about 60 per cent of any money from the government at the centre to defray the backlogs,” the governor added.

Ambali whose address was read on his behalf by the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi, commended the Federal Government on the anti-corruption war, saying that the war could be won if all Nigerians come together to address the social vice.

He noted that the FG must review the workers minimum wage to win the corruption war and grow the economy.

Fajobi who also read his address appealed to the state government to pay the unremitted 81months moribund Contributory Pensions Scheme to the Pension Funds Administrators (PFAs).