Ogun Police arrest labour leaders as Ogun workers remain adamant

Schools, hospitals and the state Government Secretariat, Oke – Mosan in Abeokuta remained largely deserted as the indefinite strike embarked upon by civil servants Ogun state entered the second day on Tuesday.
The striking workers who shunned their duty post on Tuesday over non-payment of pensions and deductions, said they would not resume until there is convincing evidence of payment of their deductions and other entitlements.
But three labour leaders – Chairman of National Union of Printing Corporation, Kayode Wemimo, Chairman of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Recreation and Technical Employee (AUCPTRE) identified as Ojeleye and another were arrested.
They were tear – gassed and arrested at the South end gate of the government Secretariat at Oke Mosan, in an apparent move by the state government  to break the resolve of the workers.
The government had on Monday through a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, asked the striking workers to return to work, dismissing the strike as misguided but the workers were adamant.
Adeoluwa stated: “we are at a loss as to what this small and unpopular group of workers in the state civil service really wants to achieve as Ogun is currently one of the few states in the federation that is able
to pay workers salaries as and when due, in spite of the current economic downturn.
“Despite the current financial crisis affecting the country, salaries have been paid up to February 2016 for all categories of workers in the state. In spite of the fact that Ogun is one of the states that
receives the least allocation from the Federation Account, it pays the highest wages to workers in Nigeria.”
Regarding the arrest, the Secretary of the Negotiating Council, Adebiyi Olusegun told reporters on Tuesday  that the Police accosted the three of their  leaders who were monitoring the strike at the main
gate and were arrested shortly the arrival of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa at the Secretariat.
“It was peaceful initially until the SSG arrived. We exchange banters and just few meters away, the Police came telling us that we have only five minutes to leave the area. Then, came from nowhere there
was tear gas. It was in that process that they drag the three leaders from the car and handcuffed them and drove them to the Trade Fair Complex Police station.
“Thereafter, we got in touch with our state leaders and who came to intervene. They wanted them to write statement, but, we told them that would be done before the media.”
The state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Akeem Ambali who addressed reporters  briefed newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Abeokuta,  said the arrest of their
members would not in any affect the dampen the resolve of the workers to continue with the strike.
“We are not going to be intimidated by government move to arrest of some of us. We have told the Police that no statement would be written except his briefing at Iwe Irohin. We condemn the arrest and I can tell you that the strike is still on,” Ambali said.
The Nation however  gathered that the arrested leaders were later released by the Police.

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