OGUN JOURNALISTS Shun ABIODUN’S PRESS CONFERENCE As Workers Warn Against Salary deduction

Journalists in Ogun state, both electronic and print on Friday boycotted a press conference scheduled by the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The journalists reportedly got angry after waiting for the governor for over four hours at the entrance of the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan.

It was gathered that the journalists got angry having waited for the governor for over four hours at the entrance of the office to no avail.

The journalists include corespondents of Punch, The Nation, Sun, Daily Independent, Tribune, Daily Trust, News Telegraph and Business Day.

Other correspondents include Silverbird TV, Galaxy, Blue print, Platform Times, PM News, among others.

The journalists walked out of the governor’s office premises over what they described as the usual delay of the governor.

They recalled that the press conference was not the first time the governor will be delaying journalists.

The press conference which was scheduled to begin by 2pm has not commence as at the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Ogun State has warned the state governor, Dapo Abiodun against any intention to deduct or cut workers pay in a bid to source funds to cushion the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The workers maintained that any attempt by the government to cut their pay will definitely not go down well with the workers and Labour union.

The acting Chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi, said this in Abeokuta, while addressing newsmen on Workers’ Day Celebration.

Lasisi insisted that the workers in the state are part of those affected by the economic crisis occasioned by COVID-19.

The union also accused the governor of “betrayal” on the promise to implement the new minimum wage from March this year.

The TUC chairman expressed disappointment over what he termed “feeling of betrayal as government failed to live by its promises.”

He said, “In fact, government had earlier announced that workers would be paid their March, 2020, salaries based on the workings of the minimum wage.

“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Ogun State council wishes to register its shock, disappointment and indeed feeling of betrayal as government failed to live by its promises.

“We wish to place on record that the Congress was not privy to the decision of the government to backslide from the earlier agreement.

“In furtherance to our bid as a labour centre to engender industrial peace and work force efficiency, we wish to remind government of its constitutional responsibility and moral obligations so as to think out of the box and re-engineer its economic machinery to be able to implement the payment of the new minimum wage in spite of everything that has happened since March to date,”

The chairman, however expressed concern that promotion exercises for the State Civil and Public Servants for 2018 and 2019 had not been conducted as at May 1st.

Lasisi called on Abiodun to set machinery in motion to effect this exercise without delay.

According to him, in the same vein, we are bothered by the nonpayment of the accumulated gratuity to our senior citizens who have retired in droves from 2012 to date.

He added, “it is illogical, unwholesome and ungodly to owe people who had contributed immensely to the economy and stability of the state.

“This is the best time they can be made happy and comfortable in retirement.

“It is a fact that our contributive pension deductions and government’s counterpart funding, are hanging in the balance since God knows when.

“It means that those of us in service are not promised of any comfort any time we retire. We therefore urge government to stop deductions immediately while we return to table to fashion a way forward.”