SAD TIMES ! Ogun strike, by Otunba Rotimi Paseda.

"If there is something to pardon in everything, there is also something to condemn".

I cannot, but join the teeming workers of Ogun State on the ongoing industrial strike action to press home their charges on the 'illegal' deductions and non payment of arrears.

This singular act is a manifestation that the government of the day is insincere and nonchalant to the interest of civil servants in the state who contributed to the generality of the Internal Generated Revenue. 

One begins to wonder why too much priority is put on needless flyovers and bridges, while people's welfare is being jeopardized.

For a government to have made several years contributory deductions from workers salary, several months cooperative deduction, with epileptic payment of gratuities, 
Can we safely say such government  have the best interest of its people at heart? With much improved IGR, it is expedient of any well meaning government to take staff welfare as a priority, rather than deductions in the name of cooperative and contributory deduction and channelling such to less important projects.  

OGUN State government insensitivity towards the plight of workers is a further testimony that the government does not place much premium on developing its people, which is so important to it's economy development.

There is no better indication of this administrations disdain for education than the fact that it has continued in its "promises unkept" ways even as students caught in the web of the strike were returned home when they should be engaged in serious academic work. 

This Administration has thrown mega, money-guzzling party on Ogun @40 celebration when some of the staff that worked of putting it together are suffering in silence.

Yet, the Secretary to the State Government insults the sensibilities of civil servants in the state by calling the striking workers whose sweat and labour as in no small measure contributed to the improved IGR as 'small and unpopular group of workers.' How insensitive!

It is particularly shocking that OGUN state government has carried on as if everything is normal, without bothering about the fate of the students, medical workers, lawyers who have been marooned at home since the strike started. 

Many of those striking are yet to pay their children school fees or meet other important personal commitments, responsibilities and sometime worse  they can't afford medical attention directly because of owing.

Many struggling to keep head above water. Inspite of countless advice to support the present administration, it must itself also do the right thing by moving away from this  "secluded" style of governance, it should redirect its priorities, it should start developing its citizen by doing things that will  impact directly and positively on the common workers, individual homes, families and lives. 

A good starting point is to immediately redirect funds to paying  workers regularly and timely as one of many lasting resolution to bringing sucur to our people since it is obvious this current dispensation is not interested in and only pays lip service to free education and free health and has obviously left it for those of us committed to its implemention 2019.

While sharing in the pains and suffering of the people of Ogun state and the civil servants, I want to assure the good people of the state that I can not imagine inflicting such discomfort on my people.

"Tough times don't last, but Tough people do".

Am not the mouthpiece of the govt but how can u explain to the parents,government that a particular public school in my local govt has never offered Economies; as a very important subject for art students, hence affecting overall performances of this secondary student at their passing out examination(wassce). Those teachers will go haywire when something of this happen painting the govt with all types of colours to drive home cheap points and not questioning their greediness and negligence to their duties. Having said this, atleast we read about the state value-added not even competing but more than that of lagos state, the state is getting richer so no excuse not to..