Amosun pardons three sacked labour leaders

…Excludes NLC chairman

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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: OGUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has pardoned three labour leaders sacked over their roles in last year’s World Teachers Day rally.

Instead of prior outright sack, Amosun, who gave the kind gesture on Monday at the Workers Day event held at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, converted the dismissal to compulsory retirement with all their benefits.

The affected civil servants are Dare Ilekoya, Nola Balogun and Eniola Atiku, but the Governor said that he could not do anything on the case of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, because he had gone to court to challenge his dismissal alongside 34 others who were later pardoned by the Governor following series of interventions by traditional rulers and eminent citizens of the state.

But Amosun said that he would look into Ambali’s matter after the completion of his case against his administration.

The good news came at the time Ambali, who should preside at the May Day rally, could not do so apparently due to his sack by the government.

The NLC chairman, however, stressed that despite his sack, he remained the labour chairman in line with the labour law.

GatewayMail gathered that Ambali, who sat on the third row to the Governor and had prepared to read his speech, was “diplomatically” prevented from doing so following an alleged order from above.

Instead, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi, read the speech, with many of the workers expressing amazement and discussing the matter among themselves.

Fajobi, however, said that the union remains non-partisan and not anti-employer as contrary to the impression being created by some people.

He pleaded with Amosun that in the spirit of Workers Day he should reinstate the four workers, who were sacked by his administration.

Fajobi further said that‎ the workforce had no anger against the government.

“Your Excellency, labour recalled circumstances leading to the dismissal of over 35 labour leaders in October, 2016 about six months ago,” he said, adding: “Sir, we thank you for the recall of others and plea for your clemency to discharge and acquit the remaining four labour leaders.”

He maintained that the workers should not be seen as opposition, anti-government or confrontational, rather as partners.

“Your Excellency sir, despite various innuendo and insinuations, we affirm that labour does not intend to serve as opposition, anti-government of confrontational,” Fajobi said.

“We are only requesting for proper inclusiveness in this our administration under our own Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,” he said.

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