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The indefinite strike by the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour unions has crippled government’s activities.
On Monday, the NLC directed all civil and public servants to withdraw their services indefinitely over unresolved issues surrounding the state Pension Reform Law. According to reports, all the government agencies in Ota were under lock and key as of yesterday.
The Magistrate’s Court, High Court and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government premises were also locked. Only the security guards were sighted on duty around the premises, turning visitors back at the gates.
A lawyer at the Magistrate’s Court in Ota, Mr Temitayo Banjo, said he came to the court to perfect the bail conditions for his client, but found out that the court did not open.
He appealed to the State Government to urgently address the workers’ demand. “I have wasted my time and money to buy fuel for my car this morning.”
Another lawyer at the High Court, Ota, Mr Kunle Carew, said the strike had devastating effects on court activities. He said the impact of the workers’ action on court activities would depend on how quickly the state government resolved the conflict with the NLC.
He urged the government to always do the needful to prevent unnecessary strikes in the state.
A staff of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Mrs Olubunmi Odusanya, described as unfair the way the government was treating the workers.
She stressed that workers are the engine room of any government and deserve better working conditions.
“We are, therefore, appealing to the government to urgently remit our pension deductions and implement the Ogun State Pension Reform Law,” she said.
She said workers would not continue to suffer and smile, pretending that all is well.
The workers said for 14 years, the state government could not remit over N82 billion, being the contributory pension deductions from the workers to the fund.
They described the action as a breach of the pension law, and a serious threat to their future after retirement.
