Hold Amosun Responsible For Any Harm Against NLC Members - Wabba

NLC National President, Ayuba Wabba (middle) flanked by the Ogun State NLC Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali (right) and other national officer of the union in Abeokuta on Monday

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji/

ABEOKUTA - National leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on security agencies as well as other eminent citizens to hold Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state responsible should any harm befall any of its members during the protest holding tomorrow, Tuesday in Abeokuta, the state capital.

NLC's national President,  Comrade Ayuba Wabba made the call while briefing journalists on Monday in Abeokuta over the level of preparedness of the union for the planned protest scheduled to hold tomorrow in the state. 

Wabba said the call became necessary in view of the statement credited to the Ogun State governor wherein he declared that the safety of NLC members coming to protest the poor working conditions of its members in the state could not be guaranteed.

But reacting to Amosun's statement, NLC National President described Amosun's statement as "not responsible enough " from a state governor, bearing in mind that the course for which the union was championing has statutory backing.

READ ALSO: Amosun Threatens To Disgrace Labour Leaders Over Planned Protest In Ogun

Wabba described as an infringement of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, situation whereby any employer would deduct workers' pensions, Cooperative dues as well as other statutory deductions without remitting same to the appropriate quarters.

He dismissed the claim that the protest is politically motivated, adding that the union had engaged the state government on dialogue on five occasions between December, 2018  till date without positive response from the governor. 

According to him, the Nigerian labour laws only permit workers to take up agitation against current administration owing their entitlement. 

"We have put all relevant security agencies on alert that we are coming to Ogun State. And if the governor believes he will use some thugs to attack us, he should be held responsible for any harm that comes to our members.

"You don't delay the strike action till when a new person comes onboard. Even in the court of law, it would be said that you slept on your right. If it is a case between you and government, there is what they called 'statue bar'. If within three months, you didn't raise any case and later when you woke up, you want to claim that you have any right, you must have slept on your rights. 

"So, for us Labour, anytime is important. I have given you analogy: from December 2018, we wrote a letter, likewise in January and also in February 2019 until the issue went to the Delegates conference. I visited this state four times to see that we resolve this issue. There has never been any state which I visited four times on matters such as this. 

"And therefore, anybody that wants to associate this with politics, is being mischievous. Of course, you know that politicians would want to continue to give excuses for their failure. But if you listen to the analogy of what the issues are, certainly you should know that they have no bearing with the issue of what politics is about. If they address our issues today, we'll clap and every worker will be happy and go away. If Amosun is ready for dialogue, NLC is ready. 

"We are acting within the ambit of section 40 of Nigeria constitution. Nobody has a monopoly of threat. We can also make life uncomfortable with politicians that are unfriendly to workers."

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the NLC leadership are in a closed meeting with Ogun State government on a possible resolution of the crisis to avert tomorrow's planned protest.