Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo

Samuel Awoyinfa
Striking workers in Ogun State on Wednesday announced the suspension of their strike “for two weeks” to allow Governor Ibikunle Amosun to address their demands.
The state chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Akeem Ambali, who confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said all workers in the employ of the state should resume at their duty posts on Thursday (today).
The workers began an indefinite strike on Monday last week to press home their demands for the remittance of their seven-month deductions to the respective agencies, among other grievances.

“The Speaker and members of the House of Assembly met with us and they asked for two weeks to enable them to iron out our issues with the governor.He said, “Yes, we have suspended the strike. But it is for two weeks to enable the state government to look into our demands.
“Also, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Alake of Egbaland met with Labour and promised to intervene by meeting the governor. I think they have met the governor. Also, Dr. Ade Abolurin (former Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) met with us and pleaded that we suspend the strike.”
Earlier, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, held a closed-door meeting with labour leaders in his palace.
The Alake, who spoke through the Oluwo of Egbaland, Chief Adeyemi Adeboye, alongside other Egba high chiefs shortly after the meeting, promised to meet with Governor Ibikunle Amosun before the end of the day.
He said, “The Alake has invited you (labour leaders) because he wants to know about the matter and has been briefed on the latest development.
“He has now understood the whole thing and he will discuss with the governor in a couple of hours from now.”
The state Chairman of the Joint National Public Negotiating Council, Abiodun Olakanmi, however, admitted that the organised labour would accede to whatever the Alake asked them to do after his meeting with the governor.