….Day one of Warning Strike successful in Ondo —NLC
Labour leaders in Ondo State under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, chased erring workers out of their offices at the state secretariat, Akure, to ensure compliance with the two-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), after the State Head of Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele reportedly caused confusion by giving contrary directive.
Trouble started when the State Head of Service had earlier in the morning, said workers in the state were not part of the two-day warning strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, ordering workers to leave their homes for duties.
A directive that made the labour leaders to move round the MDAs to protect their members who compiled with the NLC directive and chased away erring workers who hurriedly reported in offices as a result of the HoS counter order.
The labour leaders chased out workers from their offices at Government’s offices particularly at the Ministry of Agriculture/ADP, Office of Establishment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Budget & Economic planning among other offices situated at Alagbaka in Akure.
At the ministry of Health, an erring worker who refused to vacate office was reprimanded for beating a female labour leader.
All the MDAs visited by the labour leaders, have their gates locked in line with the NLC order.
Reacting, the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Victor Amoko, who monitored the warning strike with other NLC officials, described the day of the warning strike in the state as successful, saying the strike was for all Nigerian workers and not only those in Ondo State.
Amoko said that the Federal Government had done little to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the workers and general populace of Nigeria.
He said that the state Head of Civil Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele, had compelled the workers to report at work in spite of the call for a warning strike by the NLC.
“Our workers complied it was only that a little confusion created by the Head of Service who threatened them that he would not pay them salaries if they did not come back.
“He started writing names of workers who reported at work, which is uncalled for to us because it is not being done in Ondo State alone.
“We are not particular about the government of the state, if we are talking about this state, there is another issue on that.
“So asking them to come back because you pay their salaries is uncalled for,” he said.
However, the Ondo State Head of Service had earlier in the morning, said workers in the state were not part of the two-day warning strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, ordering workers to leave their homes for duties.
Ogundele made this position known during his routine inspection of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Akure on Tuesday.
According to him, the state NLC was yet to inform the state government of its intention to go on strike while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had emphatically distanced itself from the strike.
Earlier in the day, the NLC Secretariat issued a statement to tackle the Head of Service.
ONDO HoS IS OVER STEPPING HIS AUTHORITY: ACTING GOVERNOR SHOULD CALL HIM TO ORDER
It has come to the notice of the organized labour in Ondo State that the State Head of Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele is trying to cause industrial crisis in the state with his viral video.
In the viral video, the HoS was said to have threatened workers to ignore the two day warning strike called by the NLC.
We wish to direct our members and workers in the state to remain at home as directed by the NLC. The Congress will put Mr Ogundele at appropriate position at the right time.
Labour unions under NLC shall take on the HoS and calling on the Acting Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the SA on union matters & Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye to call Mr Ogundele to order before he truncates the existing labour harmony in the state.
We maintain that the reason for the strike is justified considering the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal. The HoS should not cause avoidable industrial unrest in Ondo State. We wish Mr Ogundele is called to order immediately.
Aluta Kontinua! Solidarity Forever!
From: NLC Secretariat, Ondo State Council.
