By Ayodele Oni
Organized Labour in Ondo state has told Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to call one of his Aides, Seun Adebowale to order.
Adebowale had, last week accused teachers in the state of using school pupils for personal domestic jobs and warned them to desist.
The state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT) had denied the allegation and warned Adebowale to desist from spreading fake news.
In a letter to the Governor on Wednesday, the organised Labour, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), urged him to call Adebowale to order before he causes industrial disharmony between the state government and the workforce.
Titled “This abuse must stop,” it reads, “Abuse, they say, is inevitable when purpose is not known”.
“Dear Mr. Governor, the above truism describes the vituperation of Dr. Adebowale against the respected Teachers in the employ of Ondo State Government who have been doing and giving their very best in line with best practices of the teaching profession.
“Your Excellency, it is unthinkable that Teachers who have been at home for over seven (7) months of Corona virus compulsory holiday will resume only to be tagged irresponsible by an itinerant personae-non-grata.
“Dear Sir, Labour feels it is high time, people with questionable record be left out of governance and not allowed any space in the public service of our dear Sunshine State where values and virtues are appreciated in persons exhibiting them, just as our teachers have.
“The mouth diarrhea of Doyin Odebowale has not just manifested in his recent attack against our members in NUT and ASUSS as reported in both electronic and print media, he has verbally too, assaulted teachers and Local Government Workers to the face of the NUT State Chairman calling them unprintable names.
“Your Excellency, we strongly pray that, this will be the very last time Doyin Odebowale will attack either verbally or in print any civil servant in the State or else, the story will not be palatable for him to tell.”
The Labour unions cautioned that if unchecked, reckless attitude of Odebowale could set the workers against the government.
“We equally pray Sir, that a total stranger like him causing disharmony and displeasure between labour and government be allowed to go back to his base.
“The damage he has caused is enough! His Special duties, if unchecked will cause special wahala o!
“In conclusion, Dear Governor, we have enough issues to attend to rather than this distraction. We pray for you that your second term of office shall forbid ‘bad-belle’ people like ‘Adebowale’ who should be in the forest hunting games.”
