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Striking Ogun workers allegedly vandalise lawmaker’s vehicle

By Charles Coffie Gyamfi, Abeokuta
15 March 2016   |   12:03 am
Angry Ogun State workers yesterday allegedly attacked a member of the state House of Assembly, Olayiwola Ojodu, who had reportedly driven into their rally apparently as a follow-up to the legislature’s efforts to ...

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Angry Ogun State workers yesterday allegedly attacked a member of the state House of Assembly, Olayiwola Ojodu, who had reportedly driven into their rally apparently as a follow-up to the legislature’s efforts to getting them back to work.

The march, which held at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta, allegedly saw to the pelting of the lawmaker with stones and other objects, eventually resulting in damage to his car.

Union leaders, it was learnt, had at the weekend, ordered the workers to ignore government’s directive and proceed with the industrial action.

The state NLC chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, had reportedly collected a correspondence from the legislator in hurry before being chased out by the irate workers.

Contacted, Ojodu who declined commenting on the incident, said he was at the secretariat to deliver the letter as requested by the workers.

“I don’t want to talk because we are looking for peace and not trouble. The House is intervening and what they demanded for is what I came to give them. They demanded a letter and that was what I went to give them,” he said.

Another lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We met them (workers) and the meeting was held twice. At the meeting, we appealed to them to call off the strike and allow the House of Assembly to intervene and they agreed.

“But what we have done is to give them, as requested, a letter of appreciation and to reinstate our position that we will be open to mediate between the executive and the workers in finding a lasting solution to the strike.”

Meanwhile, the workers have resolved not to go back on the industrial action, which entered the second week yesterday.
An earlier proposed peaceful protest to the state secretariat slated for yesterday was cancelled, owing to the alleged unruly behaviour of the workers.

The protest, however, took place from the NLC Secretariat on Abiola Way and ended at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat amid tight security.

A visit to the state secretariat in Oke-Mosan showed that a handful of workers defied the directive as they were seen on their duty posts.

Heavily armed mobile police officers, including men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were seen keeping surveillance at the two entrances to the government building.

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