Striking Ogun workers adamant despite arrest of two unionists

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NIGERIA: STRIKING workers in Ogun State on Tuesday said that despite the arrest of two of them they would not back out of their industrial dispute.

The Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Abiodun Olakanmi, made this vow while addressing journalists on the two-day old strike embarked upon by workers.

Olukanmi stated that no matter the steps taken by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government, the workers would not be intimidated, particularly the threat on workers to return to work or risk job loss.
‎The declaration by the JNPSNC chairman came after the alleged arrest of two of the leaders of the protesting workers by the policemen in the state.
They union leaders were apprehended and handcuffed at the entrance to the Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta secretariat.

The Governor’s Office, House of Assembly and the Government Secretariat, where the bulk of the government workers report for duties daily, are all located at the Okemosan area.

Trouble started when some of the union leaders had arrived the gate to dissuade workers, who feared being sacked, from resuming work, as government attempted to use divide and rule among the workers following government threat that workers who failed to resume at their duty posts would lose their jobs.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Adeoluwa Taiwo had Monday night directed the workers to resume duty while registers to mark their presence would be provided.

Some of the workers, who feared losing their jobs, on Tuesday resumed work, to the displeasure of the union leaders who attempted to dissuade them from working against the interest of the larger workers and the decision of the unions.

But policemen on duty, according to eyewitness, prevented the unionists from carrying out their plan until Taiwo arrived the scene and spoke with the unionists.
It was learnt that at a point, policemen threw teargas at the workers, while two of their leaders were apprehended, but were later ordered released by the SSG.

Meanwhile, Olukanmi during a chat with reporters advised the aggrieved workers to shun work, saying that the order by government that workers must report to work should be disregarded.

Olukanmi, in the presence of Akeem Ambali (Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress) and Olubunmi Fajobi (Chairman, Trade Union Congress), advised fellow civil servants to continue with the strike until further directive from the union leaders.

According to him, the council wish to state categorically that all plans by the government to intimidate workers and coerce them to submission and servitude would be disregarded.

“Under no condition would the organized labour in the state submit to cheap propaganda being peddled by the government,” he said.
Olukanmi added: “It should be mentioned that until the government remit all deductions from workers’ salaries that there is no going back. The JNC, therefore, call on workers to reject outrightly the threatening message being circulated by the state government directing workers to report to work. You are advised to keep calm and stay at home until the strike is called off by labour leaders in the state.”

Taiwo, however, told reporters that the policemen were polite to the workers and their union leaders.

According to him, any allegation against the policemen was blackmail as the strike had recorded failure.

He said: “I was there this morning.  The police conducted themselves in a civil and responsible manner.  I was there to preach peace with the labour leaders on the need to show understanding on some of the issues raised.”
“However, the workers sensing that the strike action had failed went round the offices to physically assault the staff to return home,” Taiwo said.

“They were frustrated because their plan had failed,” the SSG said, just as he denied that government signed Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) with the workers on their grievances.

The SSG maintained that should the strike continues, government may be forced to invoke the no work, no pay rule on the striking workers.