A human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has petitioned the Ondo State House of Assembly over the alleged non-issuance of appointment letters to officers of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, since its creation in 2020.
Temokun, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said he acted on behalf of a group of aggrieved Amotekun officers who have reportedly worked for years without formal letters of appointment.
According to him, unlike their counterparts in other states, Ondo Amotekun officers were only issued warrant cards, a situation he described as “unfair labour practice” and “a violation of their constitutional and international rights to work under fair and satisfactory conditions.”
“This practice denies them job security, pension rights, and dignity as workers. It amounts to discrimination and a breach of their fundamental rights,” the statement read.
In the petition submitted to the Assembly, Temokun urged lawmakers to exercise their legislative oversight powers to:
- Investigate the alleged injustice and confirm the status of all officers on the Corps’ payroll to prevent the existence of ghost workers.
- Compel the issuance of formal appointment letters to all Amotekun officers.
- Recognise their years of service for purposes of pension, gratuity, and seniority.
He further disclosed that copies of the petition were sent to the Ondo State Attorney-General, the relevant House Committees, and organised labour unions (NLC and TUC) to ensure accountability.
“Our position is clear: those who risk their lives daily for the people of Ondo State must not be treated as casual or disposable workers. If this injustice persists, we will seek legal redress for these unprotected, risky protectors,” Temokun vowed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ondo State Government and the House of Assembly had yet to respond to the petition.
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