By Ayobami Ife,, Abeokuta
Activities in Ogun state government agencies – schools, local governments, hospitals and judiciary remained paralysed for three days running as organised labour on Thursday sustained its directive asking workers to stay away from their duty posts.
The workers are on strike in protest over unpaid N 82 billion Contributory Pension Deductions by the state government.
An emergency meeting summoned on Wednesday evening at the Governor’s Office Ome – Mosan by Governor Dapo Abiodun to persuade the leadership of the organised labour – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) to suspend the strike and ask their members to resume work ended without any commitment yet from the Union leaders.
The meeting which started around 5.30pm and ended few minutes after 9pm without any decision reached to call off the strike, despite apology by the Governor, who expressed regret that workers were not carried along on matters pertaining to their grievances.
“The meeting was inconclusive, the government has scheduled another meeting later today but the strike continues,” Akeem Lasisi, TUC chairman, said.
The NLC Chairman in the state, Com, Ademola Benco, also confirmed that the meeting was inconclusive but still ongoing.
The Daily Crucible reports that civil servants in the state withdrew their services indefinitely following unresolved issues bordering on state government’s failure to remit 14 years pension deductions, non – implementation of the national minimum wage, the non-payment of eight years’ leave allowances, and the deferment of promotion benefits for workers.
Investigation revealed that workers at Abeokuta Grammar School, Asero High School, Egba High School, Lisabi Grammar School, and Baptist Boys High School stayed away and the classrooms remained shut and the school premises were bereft of students.
The strike has also disrupted the Third Term examinations which were in progress in State public schools before the workers downed tools.
