Gov Abdulrasaq shunning labour unions, leaders alleged

By Matthew Denis

The leaders of Kwara State labour unions have accused Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of avoiding audience with them to discuss critical issues as regards the state’s labour force.
Three months after his inauguration as Governor of Kwara, Abdulrazaq is yet to invite the labour leaders to discuss about the welfare of the state workforce, National Pilot, gathered.
In a chat with this medium, a labour leader of one of the unions who preferred anonymity, said “We have made several attempts to have a roundtable discussion with the Governor at various stages but he has been turning down our approach.
The source added that, “We’ll now take the bull by the horn to address issues squarely as the Governor has failed to recognise our existence in the state.
Also speaking on the issue, the Kwara State Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Kolawole Nasir Olumoh said, “The Governor has not met with us and he cannot do without the labour union. All we need to do is to collectively join hands as partners in progress to move the state forward.
“All the state government has been doing, we’re just looking and watching. I don’t think any government in power will like to undermine labour because we know how best to tackle issues for the government in several situations. But I want to believe that from different angles from which we’re trying to let his aides know that the Governor is not ready to see us but in return, they told us that he is trying to find the appropriate time to meet us. It is however getting late because our foot soldiers are getting angry and they are mounting pressure for the leadership to act.”

…disagree with KWSG over LG workers’ salary arrears clearance

Meanwhile, the labour union leaders have disagreed with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the clearance of salary backlog of workers across the 16 local governments of Kwara State.
Speaking with our reporter at the weekend, the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Kolawole Nasir Olumoh said, “the state government need to look into the salary arrears of local government workers to ensure they get paid because it was one of the things they promised to do that made our people to vote for massively for them.
“More so, it is a promise that must be kept by His Excellency because as it is, the state government has more money in it coffers than before. I see no reason why they cannot pay the arrears. And if they are arguing that the money is for the state and not the local governments then what about the tax refunds that came in. Are they saying that the local governments have no share?
“So, whatever refunds that belongs to the local governments they should use it to clear the arrears.”