The Ogun State Government has given reasons why it sacked the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Akeem Ambali, the head of the teachers’ union, NUT, Dare Ilekoya, and suspended another 19 public servants from the service.

The government in a statement signed by its Head of Service, Sola Adeyemi, and made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday said Mr, Ambali was found to have held several meetings with politicians in preparation for the Teachers Day celebration, which was said to be contrary to the civil service rules.

The government said the dismissal of Mr, Ambali and others has nothing to do with the indefinite strike embarked upon by the workers.

The state government has been having a running battle with workers over allegations of illegal deductions from salaries.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun had while reacting to the workers strike at a town hall meeting held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, described the aggrieved workers as brainless and senseless.

The government, while further justifying the sack,? declared that the panel set up to investigate the allegations found the affected officials guilty of contravening the public service rules and recommended their dismissal from the service.

‘The panel recommended that with the facts available to it, Mr Akeem Ambali gave interviews, press statements and met several times with politicians for the D-day. The government therefore dismissed Mr Akeem Ambali from the public service”, the statement noted.

The Ogun government also justified its sack of the head of the teachers’ union, NUT, in the state, Dare Ilekoya, saying it acted on the recommendation of the panel.

“Those recommended for dismissal include Comrade Akeem Ambali, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Comrade Dare Ilekoya, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT. They were all found to have contravened the Public Service Rules 04401, 04402 (c&d) and 04406 (a) due to their involvement in the political rally they held under the guise of World Teachers Day celebration event.

“Also the government approved the suspension of another nineteen public servants for contravening the public service rules. The government has already directed the appropriate agencies such as the State Local Government Service Commission to implement the approved recommendations with immediate effect.”

The labour leaders have condemned the sack and suspension and vowed to continue with their strike.