By; NIYI OGUNGBOLA, Abeokuta.
The Ogun State Government has recalled 12 out 16 workers in the state public service, who were dismissed over the unethical roles they allegedly played during the 2016 World Teachers Day celebration in Abeokuta.
The statement signed by the State Head of Service, Elder Sola Adeyemi, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Tuesday, said that 19 other workers suspended were also recalled.
New Nigerian recalled that the state government had sanctioned 35 workers in the state on the 31st of October, on the recommendation submitted by a Panel of Investigation, set up to investigate their individual roles, as contained in a petition written by “Concerned Members of the Public” including the state chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Messrs Akeem Ambali and Dare Ilekoya.
According to the panel recommendation, the affected staff were said to have committed various infractions of the Public Service Rules hence the state government action.
While the hitherto dismissed 12 workers were directed to resume for duty on January 2, 2017, the suspended 19 workers were instructed to return to work by next week Monday.
The release signed by Head of Service Adeyemi stated that the affected workers were recalled following interventions by the national and local leaderships of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), traditional rulers, religious leaders, elders and well-meaning personalities.
The Head of Service, however, noted that the cases of the remaining four dismissed workers, including the state chairmen of the NLC and NUT, Messrs Akeem Ambali and Dare Ilekoya, Eniola Atiku and Nola Balogun, were still undergoing evaluation assuring government would come out with a position upon conclusion of their cases, in due course.
“Following these interventions, government decided to revisit the matter and consequently set up machinery to carry out a case-by-case evaluation of the affected workers for the purpose of reviewing the sanctions after a careful consideration of the report at the conclusion of the review exercise.
“Government on compassionate grounds decided to immediately pardon 31 of the concerned workers” the statement partly read.
