Lagos Deputy Gov Advocates Review Of Labour Law And Domestic Violence

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, on Friday advocated review of the Nigerian Labour Law to offer more protection to employees against violence at workplaces.

Ms. Orelope-Adefulire made the call when she briefed journalists on the recent case of the alleged battery of a resident, Alexandra Ossai, by her employee in Ikeja.

Ms. Ossai, 34, was allegedly hit in the stomach by her Lebanese manager after a disagreement and she lost her seven-month-old pregnancy in the process.

The incident had attracted condemnations by Nigerians with President Goodluck Jonathan ordering a probe into the case for appropriate actions.

Ms. Orelope-Adefulire said the case of violence against Nigerians, especially by their foreign employees, had become one too many, saying it was time to put an end to it.

“Violence against Nigerians by the employees, especially by foreign owners of businesses is condemnable and we should all rise against it. I mean how people can come here to maltreat, enslave and exploit Nigerians all in the name of giving them employments.

“The case of Ossai is unacceptable and I think the relevant sections of the Nigerian Labour Law should be amended to ensure better protection of workers against things like this.

“The state government would make recommendations to the appropriate authorities to review the law so that our people don’t suffer fate like this in their workplaces,’’ she said.

The deputy-governor said that Ms. Ossai was being rehabilitated at a government facility and that the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, had taken over the case.

“OPD is investigating the case and we will ensure that the victim get justice at the end of the day,’’ she said.

Ms. Orelope-Adefulire stressed that the state’s law on domestic violence was still in force, and urged residents to report cases of abuses to the government for necessary action.

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