CDWR CONDEMNS THE UNJUST SACK OF TWO NURSES, PRINCE TEGA AND AISHAT AJIBOLA, BY OOUTH, OGUN, MANAGEMENT

WE DEMAND UNCONDITIONAL REINSTATEMENT OF PRINCE TEGA AND AISHAT AJIBOLA TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) condemns the unjust sack of Prince Tega and Aishat Ajibola by the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State.

Prince Tega and Aishat Ajibola were nurses in the employment of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital until they were recently unjustly sacked for exercising their democratic rights. Prince Tega was sacked for joining the September 15, 2020 strike action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) while Aishat Ajibola, the treasurer of the nurses’ union (NANNM) OOUTH chapter, was sacked for speaking against the sack of Prince Tega and for granting an interview to Nurses Arise Radio. The CDWR decries the criminalization of the rights to freedom of speech and association and the characterization of the conducts of the victimized nurses as “severe misconducts” by the management of OOUTH.

The Dr Peter Adefuye-led management of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) has increasingly become draconian and dictatorial in the running of the institution and towards workers. Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Peter Adefuye is running the teaching hospital like a Garrison Commander where rights of workers are regularly trampled upon. The CDWR strongly holds that the sacks are unjust, cruel and undemocratic. The inalienable rights of the two nurses to freedom of expression, association and assembly as guaranteed in Section 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution have been violated.

The CDWR demands the unconditional reinstatement of Prince Tega and Aishat Ajibola without any delay and loss of wage. We also call for a halt to the witch-hunt of staff and activists campaigning for the duo’s recall.

The CDWR calls on the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to intervene and give active solidarity to the victimized nurses with the aim of reinstating Prince Tega and Aishat Ajibola to their duty post without loss of wage. This is more so that the participation of one of the victimized nurses, Prince Tega, in a strike action called by the NLC precipitated the victimization, and also the second nurse, Aishat Ajibola, is an elected official of the union. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Comrade Rufus Olusesan

National Chairperson

Comrade Chinedu Bosah

National Publicity Secretary

E-mail: [email protected]