Temitope Akerele,Abeokuta
Before laying the workers off on Friday, the OPL had been owing several months of salaries.
Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has sacked staff of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria DailyReporters has confirmed.
The management of the library owned by the Former Nigerian President cited financial crisis occasioned by the continued lockdown aimed at curtailing the spread of the Coronavirus disease.
The organisation said it was overwhelmed by the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic and found it hard to sustain its workforce. It, however, said the affected workers would be recalled when business picked up.
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that before this development, OOPL – which has various units such as a guest house, zoo, cinema, halls, bar, car wash – had been battling with delay in the payment of workers’ salaries. The coronavirus pandemic reportedly worsened the situation.
Before laying the workers off on the OPL had been owing several months of salaries. The coronavirus pandemic reportedly worsened the situation.
The sack letter, titled “Notification of temporary cessation of appointment”, particularly stressed that the workers should not expect any salary while at home.”.
In a letter by its Head of Human Resources, Administration and Procurement, Olanike Ogunleye, the management of the OPL said the organisation was overwhelmed by the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and had found it hard to sustain its workforce.
The letter reads in part, “As you are aware, the current COVID-19 pandemic has had a toll on all our business significantly. This has resulted to making some difficult business decisions. Due to this situation, we regret to inform you that your employment will be put on hold till further notice.
“You are to hand over all company properties in your possession to the human resource department, who shall do a confirmation of the exit clearance process before your final entitlements (if any) would be paid.”
Some workers, who spoke with Nigeria Daily on condition of anonymity, alleged that the company owed them several months of salaries.
When our correspondent visited the OOPL premises located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Saturday, grave silence pervaded the vicinity.
A worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “They owe us salaries since last year. They will pay one month’s salary and pay the next one three or four months later.
“We have workers collecting less than N30,000 and they refer to those collecting N50,000 as senior workers.
“This year, they have paid just January salary and half of April salary, which was paid on April 20.”
It was gathered that apart from some top staff members, cleaners and security guards were most affected by the “temporary lay-off.”
Another worker at the security unity who pleaded anonymity said, “We were owed up to four months’ salaries last year before they were eventually cleared.”
He said a number of the workers were equally owed between two and three months’ leave allowance.
A female worker also told our correspondent that unlike in the past when there were many security guards manning the premises, only five security guards manning the two gates of the OOPL premises alongside two supervisors.
Efforts by Nigeria Daily to speak with the Managing Director of the OOPL, Mr. Vitalese Ortese, were unsuccessful, as his telephone was switched off.
Obasanjo was President of Nigeria for eight years from 1999 to 2007.