A civil servant in Ogun State identified as Sunday Ogunjimi has reportedly slumped and died, as workers moved against the Lanour Leaders in Ogun State over alleged compromise on the ongoing industrial action.

Ogunjimi was said to have slumped during a struggle with the Labour Leader at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abiola Way in Abeokuta, and was immediately rushed to the hospital.

Unconfirmed report has it that the former Chairman, Youth Council of Nigeria in Odeda Local Government, could not make it to the hospital as he died before he got to the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta.

His remains were said to be 'dumped' at the hospital as at the time of filling this report.

The workers have protested against the Labour Leaders after they were alleged to have compromised the stand of the workers during a negotiation meeting with the government on Friday. 

Trouble started when workers who have thronged the NLC Secretariat gathered that the labour leaders had signed an agreement with the government which was said to be contrary to the stand of the workers.

The Labour leaders were said to have met angry workers after their return from the meeting with the government but decided not to address the waiting workers on the outcome of the meeting.

A source within the labour unions revealed that the workers started protesting during which some facilities were destroyed at the Secretariat.

The NLC Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, later reportedly addressed the workers where he denied signing any agreement with the government, despite a document in circulation suggesting an agreement to call off the strike soon.

- Bankole, NLC Chairman

The Source said, “May I report to you from NLC secretariat Leme, Abeokuta that there is an ongoing confusion and uproar at NLC Secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta.

“Immediately the leadership came back from Oke Mosan after another meeting with the government, they were met with apprehensive and angry looking Comrades and state workers who were demanding that the leadership should speak to them.

“Some of the facilities at the NLC secretariat was destroyed in the ensuing violence that erupted when it was becoming too long for them to speak to them.

“When eventually Comrade Emmanuel Bankole decided to speak to the highly charged crowd of workers he told them in clear terms that none of them had signed any agreement and that he left some others with the government side to come and address the workers stressing that he mandated them to ensure that they move out of the place if what the government is presenting to them is unpalatable to what the demands of the workers.

“When he was asked if the strike is still on, he categorically told the workers that the strike is still ongoing.”

“Though there are rumors ongoing that a document had been signed to the effect that the strike action has been called off to which Comrade Emmanuel Bankole refuted.

“As it stands based on the assurance of the NLC Chairman Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, by Monday, the workers will be informed by the leadership of the organised labour as the strike still continues on Monday and the workers will be reconvened for further directive.”

Efforts to get Comrade Bankole proved unsuccessful as several calls put across to his mobile lines were not responded to nor returned as at the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, a document making the rounds which has the signatures of Chairmen and Secretaries NLC, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Joint Negotiating Committee, suggested that the labour leaders were committed to immediately suspend the strike.

“The State government view the interface as crucial and ongoing. In effect, periodic meeting (at least, once in a quarter) is to be conveyed to ensure constant evaluation and assessment of all the matters so as to explore benefits of collective bargaining and to promote mutual understanding between the State Government and its employees. The State Organised Labour commits to immediate suspension of the industrial action.”

It will be recalled that the labour embarked on total and industrial strike following the alleged neglect of the workers by the government.

It will also be recalled that some of the union leaders attacked and physically harassed journalists who were covering the level of compliance of the strike action earlier in the week.