Workers shutdown Ogun; governor says “ they have no brain”

– A joint strike action called by organized labour in Ogun state which commenced today has paralyzed government activities in the state
– This comes after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum they had earlier given the state government expired over unremitted 12 months cooperative deductions among others

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun says workers in the state have no brains as strike action called by organized labour in the state which commenced today has paralyzed government activities.
According to Punch newspaper, Oke Mosan, the governor’s office secretariat, where the civil servants’ offices are located was like a ghost town with only a handful of workers in their offices.
The indefinite strike was called by Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress after the 21-day ultimatum they had earlier given the state government expired over unremitted 12 months cooperative deductions among others.
The report said some labour leaders and union members who had gathered at the state NLC secretariat around 8am were attacked by hoodlums.
“The thugs came in a Toyota Camry and some others came on motorcycles, they descended on union leaders and some of us members who had gathered at the secretariat, beating us blue and black. “The thugs covered the number plate of the car, in order to shield the identity of the owner from being traced. This is sad, ” a labour leader was quoted.
Another said, “They attacked our members at Laderin Estate, Kuto Roundabout and Oke Ilewo.”
About 30 armed men of the Police Quick Response Squad and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have taken over the NLC state secretariat along Abiola Way, in the capital.
Some securitymen also had taken over the two major entrances leading to the Governor’s office/secretariat.
Primary and secondary schools in the state were also shut, as pupils were turned back at the schools’ gates.
Recall that at a town hall meeting in Abeolkuta, governor Amosun had said he would not succumb to the demands of the workers.
He said it was insensitive of the workers to be threatening to go on strike even when the economic recession is biting hard on all states.
Governor Amosun said, “We all know this, yet some are not using their brains. They don’t have brains and they don’t know what they are doing. They don’t have sense. I cannot give what I don’t have. Teachers alone collect N2 billion monthly.