With the economic hardship induced by the dreaded COVID-19 on the rise, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has sacked some of his employees without pay.
The affected staff were part of the famous Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Established in 2017, the library, sponsored by the former president, is a historic, tourist and academic centre, serving as a national archive for the preservation of documents and materials used during his eight years in office.
In a letter dated May 25th and signed by Head of Human Resources, Administration and Procurement, Olanike Ogunleye, Obasanjo said he was temporaly terminating the appointments of his employees due to the overwhelming adverse impacts of coronavirus on the organisation.
Ogunleye added the COVID-19 crisis has made it impossible to sustain its workforce.
The letter reads in part: “As you are aware, the current COVID-19 pandemic has had a toll on all our business significantly.
“This has resulted to making some difficult business decisions. Due to this situation, we regret to inform you that your employment will be put on hold till further notice.
“You are to hand over all company properties in your possession to the human resource department, who shall do a confirmation of the exit clearance process before your final entitlements (if any) would be paid.”
The termination takes effect on May 31st and without any form of remuneration.
KAFTANPost also learnt that the organisation owed several months of salaries before the layoff.
Obasanjo is the latest high-profile Nigerian to cut down his staff due to the pandemic.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who served alongside the Ota native, reportedly sacked over 400 workers at his American University of Nigeria based in Yola.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate at the last elections had earlier layed off 56 staff of Gotel Communication, another company he owns.
