Strike: Ogun Records Partial Compliance

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The two-day warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) recorded a partial compliance in Ogun State as some civil servants and health workers in some government hospitals reported for work at their respective duty posts.

At some of the federal institutions visited Tuesday, which included the Federal Medical Center, Idi-Aba Abeokuta, only doctors and nurses were fully on ground to carry out their duties, while other workers, who are members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), were absent.

The same scenario was recorded at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, which was under lock and key.

At the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the strike recorded a 100 per cent compliance as members of the Non-Academics Staff Union (NASU) paralysed activities in the institution.

Also, commercial bank workers complied with the directive by staying away from work.

Sources within the banking sector in Ogun State however, confided in THISDAY that the management of some of the money deposit banks placed their workers on a “stand-by” in case of any change in the arrangement.

At the state Secretariat Complex in Oke Mosan area of Abeokuta, some civil servants, particularly, those whose unions, were under the umbrella of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), reported for work.

This may not be unconnected with the directive of the national leadership of TUC, which said the union would not be part of the warning strike.

The Chairman of TUC in Ogun State, Mr Akeem Lasisi, disclosed that members of the council would not be participating in the strike due to ongoing engagement with the Federal Government.

The chairman of the union, who made this known while fielding questions from newsmen in Abeokuta, noted that the Federal Government had made efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on fuel, while in negotiation with the NLC, one of which was the recent palliative releases to states.

Lasisi said Governor Dapo Abiodun had invited the NLC and TUC immediately after the subsidy removal, and constituted a committee to come up with various interventions that could mitigate the effect of the subsidy removal, an act which he added showed uncommon commitment towards the welfare of workers and residents in the state.

He stated that the intervention in the state included the payment of N10,000 palliatives for three months which began in July 2023, hazard allowance to members in the health sector, peculiar allowance for workers, reduction in the number of working days, as well as distribution of grains from the Federal Government to the populace.

The chairman noted that despite the various ongoing interventions, the union would not relent in engaging with the Federal Government to ensure all their demands were met, to further reduce the hardship being experienced by their members and the general public.

He therefore called on members of the union to exercise patience as the union leaders continue to negotiate with the government in the best interest of its members.