The government of Ogun State Governor has reinstated the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali, who was sacked almost three years ago.
The action came on the heels of an order by the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who gave the directive after a meeting with the national leadership of the NLC.
The governor also approved the immediate reinstatement of three officials, including a secondary school teacher, who were dismissed in 2015 over an examination question considered offensive and too critical of the state government.
The affected officials; Mr Emmanuel Jolaolu Adegbenro, Mr Adeniyi Asegbe Emmanuel and Miss Oluwatobiloba Oluwatomiwa Taylor, were dismissed in connection with a section of the English Language examination conducted by the Ministry of Education for Unified Examination in Public Secondary Schools for the third term of 2014/2015 academic session.
The government took the decision to recall the workers after over five hours of negotiation between the state government and the NLC leadership led by the union’s President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
Wabba, who arrived Abeokuta, the state capital, on Monday, ahead of a planned, held a separate meeting with the leadership of the workers before meeting the state government officials.
The meeting between Amosun and the NLC President, which commenced on Monday night, reconvened Tuesday morning, thereby aborting the planned protest.
It would be recalled that Ambali was dismissed on October 31, 2016 over alleged misconduct arising from his role in the celebration of World Teachers Day held that year at the NUT Hall, Kuto, Abeokuta.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the labour force shows that the governor approved the reinstatement of the sacked NLC boss on compassionate ground.
Ambali was until his dismissal the deputy director, Community and Social Development, Sagamu Local Government.
The MoU was signed by the state Head of Service, Engr I.O. Bisiriyu; Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mrs M.T.O Dosunmu; NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba; Secretary-General of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Musa Lawal-Ozigi; Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Abiodun Olakanmi; and state TUC Chairman, Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi.
Amosun, according to the agreement reached, promised to pay all outstanding cooperatives deductions, leave bonus and other global deductions by April, this year.
It was also resolved that the state government and labour should look into the recommendations of the Committee earlier set up on the issue of contributory pensions scheme with a view to recommending strategy for implementation.
“In view of the foregoing, the organized labour expressed their appreciation to His Excellency for the fatherly way he resolved the lingering issues amicably and promised that this gesture will further gear up the entire workforce of Ogun State towards improved productivity,” the agreement read.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Wabba thanked the governor for acceding to the demands of workers in the state
“The governor has magnanimously asked that the sacked NLC Chairman be reinstated and that all other issues including; payment of outstanding gratuity, contributory pension scheme and Tai Solarin College of Education subventions have been amicably resolved,” he said.
Ambali, who noted that his controversial sacking and other labour issues in the state had generated national and international attention, described the reinstatement as a “win-win situation” for government and the organized labour.
The union leader expressed optimism that the state government would accordingly address other demands of the workers.
“We are happy because we are eager to put everything behind us. We want to appreciate Senator Ibikunle Amosun and we will also reciprocate the good gesture by being dedicated, loyal and honest to the service of Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
