Ogun workers boo Amosun

[Compass]

The face-off between workers in Ogun State and Governor Ibikunle Amosun degenerated yesterday as the workers booed the governor in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Amosun, whose convoy was driving along the NNPC Mega Station, Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, ran into protesting members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The NLC was protesting the alleged non-remittance of their pension deductions and refusal of the state government to repeal the law on Contributory Pension Scheme, which they claimed had impoverished workers since its introduction in 2008.

Led by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, the workers, who carried various placards denouncing the state government, also called for the immediate stoppage of pension deductions from their salaries by the government.

The workers, who defied the early morning downpour, started their protest from the NLC State Secretariat in Oke-Ilewo around 9 a.m. and marched round major streets of Abeokuta, chanting various anti-government slogans.

Anti-riot policemen were everywhere in the state capital.

According to the aggrieved workers, the state owed them about N7.8 billion, being accumulated pension deductions.

They lamented that rather than pay or dialogue with workers, the Amosun-led administration had also towed the path of deductions and had not remitted two months pension deductions from their salaries to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), contrary to provisions of the contributory pension law.

Ambali, who spoke on behalf of the workers, alleged that Amosun had not shown commitment to paying the outstanding deductions.

The NLC boss vowed that workers in the state would resist further injustice to their interests.

He said: "We want to appreciate you for this sensitisation rally on the need to repeal the contributory pension law. The law has impoverished Ogun workers. Most of the money deducted has not been remitted to the PFAs. We want the government to repeal the law and the government should stop deducting our money".

However, there was a mild drama at the NNPC Mega Station when Amosun's convoy ran into the protesting workers.

The governor, who was said to be on his way to visit Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, at the latter's Kemta, Idi-Aba residence, did not acknowledge the protesters as his convoy passed them by.

Miffed by the governor's action, some of the workers shouted at his convoy, hurling various abusive words.

"O n salo o, etete pe pada. Amosun n salo o, etete pe pada (He's fleeing, call him back. Amosun is fleeing, call him back)," one of the protesters shouted.

The governor's convoy did not halt.

The workers later proceeded to the  House of Assembly in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, where they submitted a letter to the Speaker concerning their demand for the abrogation of the current pension law in the state.

The Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, however, appealed to the workers to exercise patience, saying the state lawmakers would address their grievances.

"We are here to legislate and give succour to the people. We will look into all your grievances," he stated.