The Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress {NLC} yesterday gave the state government a 21-day ultimatum to reinstate the 2,000 workers it retrenched because of their employment at the tail end of the immediate past administration.

The union chairman, Akeem Ambali, who announced the ultimatum at the end of a stakeholders meeting held in Abeokuta, also frowned at the alleged various deductions from workers’ salaries by the government.

The sacked workers had been making frantic efforts to ensure that they were recalled, while the government, which said it merely asked them to stay away until their employment status is ascertained, said only those found to have merited the jobs would be re-absorbed into the civil service.

The Labour Congress warned the government to henceforth desist from the deduction of their contributory pension scheme, following non-remittance to the appropriate quarters.

On July 14, Mr Ambali led a public protest by civil servants in the state over the alleged non-remittance of the contributory pension scheme. The aggrieved workers, who marched round major streets in Abeokuta, the state capital, said that government was owing them about N7.8 billion.

Remit the deductions

The protesters, who disclosed that the amount represented the accumulated pension deducted from their salaries by the Gbenga Daniel administration, said the Ibikunle Amosun administration has also continued with the deductions without remitting same to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) since May.

“We are giving the state a 21-day ultimatum. We had earlier staged a mass rally to press home our demands; we expect the government to toe the path of honour,” Mr Ambali said.

He described the deductions from workers’ salaries as not only fraudulent but also criminal, just as he called for the repeal of the Contributory Pension Law, as well as stoppage of the deductions.

“If at the expiration of the ultimatum, the government fails to accede to our demands, Ogun workers will embark on an indefinite strike to press home our demands,” he further said, adding that the sacked workers should be immediately re-engaged by the government.

If labor wants to strike as a result of the 2K sacked workers, then imo Amosun should sack any who strike.

They are in no position to dictate to him who he hires and who he does not. These governors need to be more firm and not let labor push them around.

ekt_bear:

If labor wants to strike as a result of the 2K sacked workers, then imo Amosun should sack any who strike.

They are in no position to dictate to him who he hires and who he does not. These governors need to be more firm and not let labor push them around.

Gbam!! People are really over stretching their rights to another dimension. WTF?!