Government activities in Ogun State were yesterday brought to a halt, following the indefinite strike embarked upon by the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other labour unions.
The Magistrate Court, High Court and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government premises were under lock, with only security guards turning visitors back at the gate.
It would be recalled that NLC on Monday directed all civil and public servants to withdraw their services indefinitely over unresolved issues surrounding the state Pension Reform Law.
A lawyer at the Magistrate Court in Ota, Mr Temitayo Banjo said he came to court to perfect the bail conditions for his client, but found that it did not open.
Banjo appealed to the state government to urgently address the workers demand.
“I wasted my time and money to buy fuel for my car this morning,” he said.
Another lawyer at the High Court, Ota, Mr Kunle Carew, noted that the strike had devastating effect on court activities.
Carew said the impact of the workers action on court activities would depend on how quickly the state government resolves the conflict with NLC.
He urged government to always do the needful to prevent unnecessary strike in the state.
A staff of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Mrs Olubunmi Odusanya, said it was unfair the way government is treating the workers.
Odusanya added that workers are the engine room of any government and they deserve better working conditions.
“We are, therefore, appealing to government to urgently remit our pension deductions and implement the Ogun State Pension Reform Law,” she said.
She said workers would not continue to suffer and smile, pretending that all is well.
The workers said for 14 years, the state government could not remit over N82 billion, being the contributory pension deduction from workers to the fund.
They said the action was in breach of the pension law and a serious threat to their future upon retirement.
