Osun NLC strike grounds schools, hospitals, govt offices

Osun State Government Secretariat and other government establishments in the state did not open for business on Monday as the workers joined the industrial action called by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress in the state.

Some workers who attempted to report at the Government Secretariat, Abere, were turned back by people believed to be officials of the labour unions in the state.

Our correspondent, who monitored compliance with the NLC directive in Osogbo, the state capital, reports that all public primary and secondary schools were shut.

Also, the entrance to the premises of Osun State High Court at Okefia, Osogbo, was shut to business, in compliance with the directive by the NLC.

Some pupils who were unaware of the commencement of the industrial action until they got to school were observed playing on the premises of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, while pupils of Osogbo Government Technical College were also sighted along Odi-Olowo Road and in the Okefia area returning home as a result of the strike.

A primary healthcare centre around Odi-Olowo, Osogbo, had not opened for operation as of 12:00 pm when our correspondent visited the premises.

Also, at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, an official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorised to comment on the issue, said the facility was not receiving new patients due to the industrial action.

He, however, said those previously admitted before the strike commenced were receiving care from a handful of staff members who were allowed to work.

“We are not receiving new patients. Only a handful of staff are around to work due to the strike. We have to comply with the directive of the labour unions.

“But those patients who were already in before the strike commenced are receiving care. Some people who brought new cases this morning were turned back. That is the situation for now,” the official said.

The state NLC had, on Sunday, directed workers in the state to embark on a three-day solidarity strike with the National Union of Local Government Employees over the non-release of statutory monthly allocation to the council areas in the state.

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In a statement signed by the Osun NLC chairman and secretary, Christopher Arapasopo and Victor Amusan, respectively, and obtained in Osogbo, the congress said the industrial action was in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in the state.

Speaking on the industrial action, the Osun NLC chairman, Arapasopo, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Monday, said the development was necessitated by the hardship suffered by the local government workers, whose cooperative deductions, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements remained threatened due to non-release of statutory allocation to the council areas.

The NLC boss, who noted the shutdown of public services may cause inconvenience to residents, emphasised that organised labour was not embarking on the action to punish the people or deliberately inflict hardship on anyone.

He further said, “For now, the Organised Labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

“This position arises from the continued withholding of local government allocations and the attendant hardship imposed on workers, pensioners and our dependents. We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering.

“We are aware of Mr Governor’s commitment to supporting the President’s re-election. However, the interests and welfare of workers, pensioners and our dependents must take precedence over individual political preferences.

“In accordance with the directive of the SEC-in-Session, our loyalty is first and foremost to the working class and the people we represent.

“Workers’ support is neither automatic nor unconditional; it must be earned through policies and actions that protect their welfare and dignity,” Arapasopo said.

Demanding the immediate release of all outstanding statutory allocations due to the councils, and the discontinuation of further payments into the illegal bank accounts, the NLC chairman further called for the protection of workers’ salaries, cooperative deductions, allowances, pensions, gratuities and other legitimate entitlements.

He also urged the federal and state governments to act urgently and responsibly to resolve the crisis, calling for a permanent resolution of the LG financial impasse.