SPN Insists Amosun-led Ogun state government is not only anti-worker; it is equally anti-student and anti-poor

RE: OGUN REJECTS ANTI-WORKERS TAG

PRESS STATEMENT

The Guardian on Sunday, August 19, 2018, published a story with the title: Ogun Rejects Anti-Workers Tag.  In the published story, the Ibikunle Amosun–led APC government through the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladapo,  was reported  to have bemoaned the alleged unhappiness of the state workforce with the government, leading to current fractured relationship with the governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

 

The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), wishes to state emphatically that the governor and the commissioner, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), are both completely off the mark.  SPN reiterates that the hard working but suffering workers are presently groaning under the excruciating pains of anti-workers and anti-poor people policies being implemented by the government. The working masses, artisans, traders, students and other oppressed strata of the society, whose living and working conditions have deteriorated under this APC-led government, should demonstrate their unhappiness by preparing   to vote out this government and its anti-poor programs come 2019!

It is curious that a government that has continually attacked the democratic rights of workers, spurned their legitimate demands for improved welfare condition, failed to honor agreements and consequently created an atmosphere of hostility and suspicion, would expect to enjoy a harmonious relationship devoid of fractures with its workforce.  Governor Ibikunle Amosun led APC  government  has worsened the economic wellbeing and working conditions of Ogun civil servants by its refusal to pay workers’ 48 months leave allowances and 18 months  deductions since 2015 till date; failing to remit the pension funds deducted from workers’ salaries in the last 90 months to contributory pension scheme; deferring promotion in arrears for the last three years, and still running; owned retirees’ gratuities for several months; sacking trade union leaders; inconsistently releasing  monthly running  cost thereby compelling  civil servants to spend parts of their meagre salaries after deductions to pay for electricity bills in their various offices to avoid disconnections, buy papers to generate reports and pay for its production at private business centers at personal cost; and openly expressing  its unwillingness to support workers’ demand for new minimum wage. It is preposterous that such government is concerned of being tagged as anti-workers government. Actually going by its record, it is crystal clear that the Amosun-led Ogun state government is not only anti-worker, it is equally anti-student and anti-poor. 

It is clear that the teeming working masses of Ogun state that have been at the receiving end of the government anti-poor policies of public private partnership, underfunding of education, commercialization of healthcare services, privatization of public utilities, tax burden, outsourcing, inflated road contracts etc., are tired  of APC-led government . The workers of Ogun are yearning for alternative that can guarantee decent life. However, such alternative cannot be offered and guaranteed by PDP with similar poor record in the state and other pro-capitalist political parties as they all prioritize the interest of a few over that of the vast majority. We therefore call on workers, youth and the masses in Ogun State to join the SPN whose program entails using the resources of the society, both human and material, for the benefit of the vast majority.

SIGNED

Eko John Nickolas

State Secretary SPN Ogun