Organised labour in Osun State has defended Governor Ademola Adeleke over the N10,000 payment to workers and pensioners, insisting that the money was a palliative requested by labour and not an attempt to influence voters ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) made their position known during a congress held outside the state secretariat in Osogbo.
NLC Chairman, Dr Christopher Arapasopo, said organised labour wrote to Adeleke in April requesting financial assistance for workers and pensioners struggling with the effects of economic hardship.
According to him, the unions initially requested N20,000 per person, but later agreed to N10,000 after discussions with the governor over the state’s financial situation.
“It is not vote-buying. We demanded for it and we are telling the world and the EFCC that it is not vote-buying, but palliative,” Arapasopo said.
He said the payment was subsequently described by opposition groups as vote-buying on social media, a claim the labour leaders rejected.
JNC Chairman, Adediran Olalekan, also urged workers and pensioners to participate in the election without fear or intimidation, stressing that they remained free to vote for candidates of their choice.
“We implore them all to go out with their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to their various polling units and vote for the candidate of their choice, without tension or fear,” he said.
Olalekan further appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies to provide a level playing field for all political parties during the election.
Source: Osun State organised labour leaders.
