The decision of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose to join his state workers in their strike has not gone down well with some people.
Ayodele Fayose
Governor Ayodele Fayose has been sued over his decision to join workers of the state’s civil service in their industrial action.
Kabir Akingbolu, a lawyer, who sued the governor before a Federal High Court in Lagos, argued that Mr. Fayose’s decision amounted to abdication of duties.
“Considering the provision of Section 176 subsection 1 and 2 of the Constitution whether the abdication of duty by the 1st Defendant in reckless abandonment is not a violation of Oath of office taken by him as Governor of Ekiti,” Mr. Akingbolu stated in his originating summons.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the state’s Attorney General, Accountant-General of the Federation, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr. Fayose had announced in a televised broadcast his decision to join the workers’ indefinite strike in solidarity.
The workers are being owed five months salaries.
“I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with you,” Mr. Fayose was quoted as saying. “I have shared your pains, but it was rather unfortunate that a man can’t give what he doesn’t have.
“I have told you the true position of the finances of the state, of which you had played critical roles in allocation to relevant sectors which shows how well I had carried you along since the dwindling revenue to the state commenced.”
But the workers responded by telling him to pay their salaries rather that engaging in the solidarity strike.
In his court papers, Mr. Akingbolu sought an order of the court declaring that Mr. Fayose has lost his position as governor “having failed to transmit power to his deputy as envisaged by the constitution”.
He also sought, among others, an order directing President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Ekiti State “to avert breaking down of law and order, since there is a vacuum in governance.”