By Hosea Parah
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared solidarity with striking workers in Osun State, demanding the immediate release of withheld local government funds.
Their support is contained in a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, on Tuesday, titled: ‘We are with striking osun workers’.
”We express solidarity with the striking workers of Osun State in pursuit of the release of the withheld local government funds and urge the Federal Government authorities to release those funds without further delay.
”The non-release of these funds has caused considerable damage to governance at the local government council level with collateral implications.
”There is no justification whatsoever for the continued seizure of these funds other than to prove the point that the federal government is above the law.
”However, we do not need this level of intimidation or arm-twisting in a democracy.
”The Federal Government cannot cherry pick which decisions of courts to obey and which it will not.
”We commend the Osun workers for conducting themselves with utmost decorum in prosecuting this action, and we urge them to keep it so….always peaceful,” the statement read.