Workers in Ogun state have declared an indefinite strike over the alleged refusal of the state government to pay their 21-month salary deductions.

The workers are also protesting what they termed the “government’s insensitivity to workers’ welfare.”

Leadership of the organised labour, comprising of Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Committee, declared the strike on Monday while addressing workers at the arcade ground at Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The workers took the decision following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to Governor Dapo Abiodun over his government’s non payment of eight-year statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, amongst other demands.

Shortly before declaring the strike, many workers had assembled at the arcade ground and sang solidarity songs against the government.

The workers  berated Abiodun for failing to honour the agreement contained in the Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) in 2020.

Declaring the strike action, Chairman of the NLC in the state,  Emmanuel Bankole, said the strike became imperative following serveral failed attempts to meet the governor over their plights.

He lamented that  the government had failed to respond to seven letters written to the government on the issue.

Bankole directed all the workers in the employ of the state government to stay away from work.

According to him, the strike, which would take effect from Tuesday, would be a total and indefinite strike, declaring that there was no going back until their demands were met by the governor.

Bankole said, “We are here today to take our destiny in our own hands. The leadership is ready. We must start a new beginning, we must tell them (government) that we are workers and we are not slaves. The time is now, a stop must be put to this.

“Our future and the future of the workers of Ogun State is in great jeopardy. Governance is a serious business and whoever that is not ready for it, I think it is time we tell such person go home.

“Having given them enough time, they are too busy to attend to us. Maybe if we go home for some time, they will have time to attend to our matter.

“There is no going back. We have given them so long rope to draw.

“It is my opinion and my conviction that Ogun State workers are saying that we should embark on a full-blown strike.

“We are embarking on an indefinite strike from 12 midnight, let all the workers stay back at home. The implication is that nobody is expected at work tomorrow.

“Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor,” Bankole said.

Others who supported Bankoke during the rally where the strike was declared were Chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi, and Chairman of JNC, Isa Olude.

Punch