By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA— Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday, announced the pardon of three  of the remaining four workers earlier dismissed for  alleged misconduct during the World Teachers Day celebration in October last year.

Announcing the pardon in his address at the event to mark the Workers Day, governor Amosun said; “The dismissed workers are pardoned. They will now proceed on retirement from the public service with full terminal benefits in accordance with the extant public service regulations.”

Those to enjoy the pardon are Messrs Dare Ilekoya, Eniola Atiku and Nola Balogun, while the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Akeem Ambali was left out.

Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun

The governor acknowledged the mediation  by the national leadership of the labour unions, particularly the Comrade Michael Alogba-led NUT; the national leadership of the NLC and TUC, as well as revered elders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and respected traditional rulers across Ogun state, among others.

The governor added that; “The pardon does not apply to Mr. Akeem Ambali because, unlike the three others, he had approached the law courts to challenge his dismissal from the civil service.

‘’While all parties await the outcome of litigation, as a responsible and law-abiding administration, we cannot be seen to have taken any action on a matter that is already before a court of competent jurisdiction. That will be subjunctive and an affront to the independence of the third arm of government.”