Strike: One Dies as Commotion Erupts at Ogun Labour’s Congress
EMERGENCY DIGEST- A worker reportedly died on Friday after a commotion at the Labour House in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The incident happened during a congress called by organized labour over the ongoing indefinite strike.
The labour leaders had called civil servants for a briefing on the outcome of the meeting with the government officials over the industrial dispute.
The indefinite strike which began on Tuesday crippled activities of the government, hospitals and public schools across the state.
The Labour had declared the strike over what they termed “pathetic plight” of workers in the State.
Our correspondent reports that 24 hours after the strike, Governor Dapo Abiodun called labour leaders into a meeting.
The labour team was led by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Bankole; Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Akeem Lasisi, and the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Isa Olude.
It was gathered that the labour leaders on Friday afternoon called for workers’ parliament at the Labour House to brief members on the ongoing dialogue with the government.
Report showed that both parties have made some progress after three days of negotiation.
But members reportedly revolted against the leaders when the idea of calling off the strike was mooted, as they insisted that the strike must continue.
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The atmosphere became charged as they were chanting “we no go gree.”
Some accused their leaders of compromise in the negotiations of their demands from the government.
This led to an uproar with threats of attacks on the union leaders. Some property at the Labour House were reportedly destroyed.
A combined team of security operatives was drafted to calm the tensed atmosphere.
Amid the chaos, one of the workers, reportedly slumped.
He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, where he died.
His remains, according to sources, have been deposited at the morgue.
Following the outrage, the labour leaders have reportedly bowed to pressure to continue with the strike on Monday.
Bankole denied that the labour leaders have signed an agreement with the government in order to call off the strike.
The NLC Chairman called on members to always trust the leadership, saying their demands would not be compromised.
“It’s not a must that we call for a workers’ parliament. We, the leaders, only resolved that we need to call for a workers’ parliament to brief you on the stage we have reached on the negotiation.
“That’s to tell you that nobody will betray your interest. For us to succeed in this struggle and be on the same page, if you don’t trust the leadership, it will be too bad,” Bankole told the gathering of angry workers.
He said the negotiation is still in progress, and promised to give further updates on Monday.
