Governor Fayose, Time To End Your Strike! -By Michael O. Ogunjobi

I speak affirmatively, Nigerian workers are suffering! A cursory look at those peculiar circumstances, a microcosm of the general challenges faced by employees, is brought to the fore by the recent declaration of the Governor of Ekiti State that he is embarking on strike. Regrettably, a good number of states are battling industrial actions embarked upon by workers for non-payment of salaries. However, the approach adopted in resolving this impasse in Ekiti State is peculiar. It is apt to state that an immediate reaction to Governor Fayose’s declaration would be to exclaim- ‘wonders shall never end in Ekiti!’. Well, we take solace in the witty sayings of the late literary sage, Chinua Achebe-‘nothing puzzles God!’.

There are various pressing national issues that fantastic citizens of our fatherland have become accustomed to. It is needless saying that failure to appreciate the comic relief underlying these saddening tales, then, depression may set in. Of note, the woes of the masses appear to be multiplied in our polity due to the current harsh economic climate. To have proper perspective of the situation, it is interesting to note that the late mobilization of eligible graduates by the management of National Youth Service Corps to partake in the mandatory scheme this year is as a result of inability to access funds from the federal government. This captures the ‘season of golden tomato’ where Chief Medical Directors of neglected teaching hospitals of public universities complain of brain drain, lack of facilities, and inadequate funding to the advocate of change, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who recently travelled abroad to receive medical attention from the institutions that have ripped our medical sector of its finest indigenous experts.

The regular criticisms benevolently showered on the presidency by the Governor of Ekiti State has given the impression that the latter is above board. Moreso, considering that Governor Fayose has consistently stood out as a lone voice despite internal crisis that rocked the People’s Democratic Party is a rare show of bravery in view of the fact that many of his political party allies were cross carpeting. However, the public announcement by Governor Ayodele Fayose while reacting to the prolonged strike embarked upon by civil servants in Ekiti State is short of what is expected from a man of the people. It is perplexing that the solution proffered by Governor Ayodele Fayose failed to address the impasse, since his action can be best viewed in variant perspectives, viz: Governor Fayose has portrayed himself more as an actor-man of the people than an action-man; there appears to be deliberate resort to cheap sympathy in the face of the challenges; his conduct smirks of incompetence, amongst others.

Presumably, the drafters of Nigeria’s constitution envisaged that a sitting Governor of a state could declare that he is embarking on strike, yet decline to relinquish power. Of course, there is room for the conduct to be examined in line with section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which spell out that a Governor of a state may be removed from office for engaging in any act amounting to ‘gross misconduct’. Of importance is also the provision of Section 176(1) CFRN 1999 as it concerns the conduct of His Excellency in relation to his Oath of Office having not resigned, and same is currently the subject of litigation, wherein Kabir Akingbolu Esq. instituted a suit before the Federal High Court urging the court to pronounce that His Excellency’s conduct amounts to an abdication of his duties. No doubt, Governor Fayose must have felt his announcement of embarking on solidarity strike is a show of love for his people. But the Governor of Ekiti State had failed to realize that in this era of change, words expressing love must be accompanied by affirmative action as he himself had constantly rebuked President Mohammed Buhari for never keeping to his promise, yet relying on Mr. Lai Mohammed to tell lies.

Indigenes of Ekiti State had expected their hero to enlighten them on standards and policies to mitigate the harsh economic realities in his public broadcast. They had expected information that certain steps have been taken and that the future was not bleak afterall; only to be disappointed. Though respite recently came the way of His Excellency upon the suspension of the strike by the aggrieved workers in Ekiti State. His Excellency can heave a sigh of relief having been at loggerheads with the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who brazenly froze his accounts with Zenith Bank on account of ongoing investigations by the anti-graft agency into his campaign funding.

It is desireable that Governor Ayodele Fayose exhibit modesty and decorum which is befitting for the exulted office he occupies and desist from misguided utterances that tend to trivialize germane issues. The least that is expected from the man of the people is to trample on the feelings of his people. Of note, one wonders it these different governors owing civil servants have stopped receiving their monthly salaries? While we sympathize with bereaved relatives of the casualties of the industrial action in Ekiti State, it is expected that His Excellency would not shy away from calling off the solidarity strike he had embarked upon and accordingly make reparations for the living and the dead!

The social pressures on Nigerian workers is quite pathetic, especially in the private sector as brought to the fore by the recent mass termination of employment of bankers. This is worsened by the unemployment situation in the country. I dare say that one need not be a professor of thanatology, the study of death and dying, to imagine the agony of workers in our polity in view of the fact that the minimum wage in Nigeria is #18,000 only. Ultimately, there is need for socialist reconstruction of the society as the total solution to the agony of workers in our polity!

*Ogunjobi Michael O. writes from Jireh & Greys Attorneys(the Chambers of Norrison Quakers SAN) in Lagos.