By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Nigeria Labour Congress in Ondo has vowed to resist the planned demolition of staff quarters in Alagbaka, Akure, by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
The NLC Chairman in Ondo, Ademola Olapade, said this during the inauguration of the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, on Wednesday in Akure.
Leke Adegbite and Meshack Olaoluwa were re-elected unopposed as the Chairman and Secretary of the Council, respectively.
The NLC Chairman said the move to demolish the staff quarters for urban renewal projects would cause friction between Mr Aiyedatiwa’s government and the union.
He noted that there was no prior meeting and conversation between the labour unions and the Ondo government to discuss the modalities for the demolition of the Alagbaka staff quarters.
“Government must do everything to leave our members in the quarters. The place should not be demolished because our members live there.
“We are talking of over 156 units with over 600 people living there. So, the government cannot just ask them to leave in a jiffy, giving them a week or a month, but must come up with something better. Organised Labour in Ondo State will resist any move by the state government to make the occupants of Alagbaka staff quarters homeless,” he stated.
He urged the new NUJ executive in the state to continue to protect the interests of its members and be a voice for the voiceless.
Responding, the chief press secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said, “The Alagbaka staff quarters is an estate from 40 years ago that must be renovated. The renovation started with the government house last year, so it is not new and it is important. What the government is doing is giving a new look to the state capital, starting with Alagbaka area, the seat of power.
“We cannot leave the area with such dilapidated structures for years. As a matter of fact, some of the occupants of the place could not even maintain them. From observation, 70 per cent of the occupants are not even supposed to be there because the place is meant for low-salary earners.”
Mr Adeniyan promised that the affected occupants would be compensated for relocation by the Ondo government. He urged the organised labour to engage the government for proper understanding instead of resisting the move.
Mr Adeniyan, while congratulating the new chairman of NUJ and other executive members in the state, appreciated the “robust relationship” between the state government and the leadership of the union.
NAN