Osun NLC chair: Workers must not be intimidated during governorship poll

Christopher Arapasopo, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State, has called on civil servants to exercise their civic duties without fear of intimidation during the upcoming governorship election.

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This is just a mini congress of organised labour in Osun State for workers and pensioners. We are here to inform the general public about happenings in Osun and how we feel about it.

Arapasopo addressed a joint congress of the NLC and Trade Union Congress, stating that labor leaders have been monitoring election-related developments. He specifically addressed allegations of vote-buying concerning a recent N20,000 payment to civil servants and pensioners by the state government.

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They tagged it vote buying of which they didn’t know. The labour leaders were the ones that requested palliatives for workers to cushion the effects of economic troubles in the country, of which Osun State is not an exception.

He explained that the payment was a direct response to a formal request from labor leaders for palliatives to cushion economic hardships. After initial discussions, Governor Ademola Adeleke agreed to pay N10,000 each, which was accepted by the labor unions. Arapasopo refuted claims that this was vote-buying, emphasizing it was a response to their organized labor's request.

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The governorship election should not be war. We as workers and pensioners of Osun State have every right to vote for whosoever pleases us.

The NLC chairman issued a warning against any party attempting to intimidate civil servants, pensioners, or the general public in Osun State. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure the Osun APC does not turn the election into a conflict. Arapasopo stressed the right of every citizen to vote freely and urged the police to perform their duties impartially, protecting citizens rather than taking sides. He also requested the international community to closely monitor the election process in Osun State.

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No worker must be intimidated, no harassment of anybody, and not to talk of any citizen of Osun State. We are appealing that this election should be free and fair. We are appealing to the international community to switch on their searchlight on Osun State.