The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State, Christopher Arapasopo, has warned against the intimidation of civil servants and pensioners before or during Saturday’s governorship election.
Arapasopo spoke on Monday at a joint congress of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) held at the entrance of the Osun State Government Secretariat in Abere.
He said organised labour had been monitoring developments ahead of the election and urged civil servants to exercise their civic rights without fear or intimidation.
The NLC chairman also defended the recent payment of N20,000 to civil servants by the Osun State Government, absolving Governor Ademola Adeleke of any wrongdoing.
According to him, the payment followed a request by organised labour for palliatives to cushion the impact of economic hardship on workers and pensioners in the state.
“This is just a mini congress of organised labour in Osun State for workers and pensioners. We are here to inform the general public about happenings in Osun and how we feel about it,” Arapasopo said.
He explained that organised labour wrote to Adeleke on April 8 requesting N20,000 in palliatives for each worker and pensioner.
He said a meeting was subsequently held in July, during which the government, citing financial constraints, proposed N10,000 each for workers and pensioners.
“It was accepted by labour. In that meeting, I could recall that we requested that June and July be paid,” he said.
Arapasopo said the payment had attracted allegations on social media, with some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing the government of attempting to buy votes ahead of the election.
“They tagged it vote buying, of which they didn’t know. The labour leaders were the ones that requested palliatives for workers to cushion the effects of economic troubles in the country, of which Osun State is not an exception,” he said.
He said the joint congress was also convened to send a warning to any political party that might attempt to intimidate civil servants, pensioners or other residents of the state during the electoral process.
Arapasopo appealed to President Bola Tinubu to caution members of the Osun APC, stressing that the election should not be turned into a conflict.
“The governorship election should not be war. We, as workers and pensioners of Osun State, have every right to vote for whosoever pleases us.
“No worker must be intimidated, no harassment of anybody, and not to talk of any citizen of Osun State. We are appealing that this election should be free and fair. We are appealing to the international community to switch on their searchlight on Osun State,” he said.
He also urged security agencies, particularly the police, to remain neutral and protect voters and residents during the election.
“The Police should do their work. Their work is to protect citizens and not taking side,” he said.
The people of Osun State will go to the polls on August 15 to elect a governor, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clearing 14 political parties to participate in the election.
