By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan – The dust generated by the sack of some Permanent Secretaries, Directors and workers by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State is yet to settle.

Though, the governor repeatedly said that sacking workers would definitely not be an option to resolve the on-going economic downturn in the state, he warned that his administration would not spare any worker who has skeletons in his cupboard.

Recently, some Directors of the State Broadcasting Corporation were laid off as a result of what the government called ‘restructuring’.

Also, 10 Permanent Secretaries were not exempted from the hammer of government.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi

While protesting the sack of the workers, one of the opposition parties in the state, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, led by Angel Folorunso alleged that “All Progressives Congress-led government under the toxic leadership style of Governor Ajimobi has reinforced workers-unfriendly policy in the state by not paying their salaries as well as instilling a climate of fear and threats of sack.”

Folorunso said; “we take exception to any attempt to sack workers in the state civil service. The governor should know that wielding arbitrary power like a little tyrant will further damage the pseudo-progressive posture of the APC government in the state.”

While the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Waheed Olojede could not apportion too much blame to the governor on the sack of the permanent secretaries, he told South West Voice that the executive members of the union had indicated their decision to see the governor and discuss the rationale behind the sack of the Directors.

Olojede said, “Well, the issue of the Permanent Secretaries is political. It is at the discretion of the governor. The law allows the governor to appoint permanent secretaries among the directors. So, the government has the right to appoint and sack the permanent secretaries.

“But , in the case of the Directors and six Vehicle Inspection Officers, we have sought for an audience with the governor through the Joint Negotiating Council and NLC. A letter was sent to the governor eight days ago and we are still waiting for his invitation.

“On payment of salaries, JNC and NLC reviewed the issue and we have agreed to meet this Thursday(yesterday) when we will consider critically the situation.

“The inability of the government to pay salaries has made it extremely difficult for workers to provide for their families. It is difficult to get transport fares to their offices. We are calling on the attention of government to pay the outstanding salaries. It paid some workers last in October and at the end of this month, it means they are owed five months salaries . How do you expect maximum productivity from such workers? It is not easy to work on empty stomach.

“The government has to do something very urgent before this matter snowballs into labour crisis. Industrial crisis is imminent in the state. We don’t want any representatives from the governor again but the governor himself should meet with them.’’

Governor reacts: Governor Ajimobi who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka said what the governor did was not retrenchment but restructuring that will improve productivity and efficiency.

Corroborating the stance of the state NLC Chairman, he said the governor reserves the prerogative of appointing and sacking the Permanent Secretaries adding that the affected officers were very near to retirement.

He reiterated that what the governor did was in the best interest of the state and even the workforce. “We are aware of the restructuring going on at the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS. It is geared towards bringing out the best. Governor has demonstrated in no small measure that he is a worker-friendly governor.”
On the 500 workers allegedly sacked, he wondered where ‘ the seeming non-existent party’, APGA got its bogus figure.

NUJ kicks
In the same vein, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council, has reiterated its call on the state government to reinstate the sacked workers of the state owned broadcasting outfit, the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.

In a communiqué signed by the chairman of the union, Mr Gbenga Opadotun at the end of its congress, the union urged the state government to respect the civil service rules and guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline of workers in the state. The union noted that the sacked officers were employed by the Civil Service Commission and we’re thus bound by its edict.

The congress also enjoined well meaning Nigerians to intervene in the matter in the interest of fair play, equity and justice. “We are not opposed to restructuring as it enhances efficiency and productivity if properly done,” the union noted.