Osun Workers Declare Fresh Strike Over Incomplete Payment

Workers in Osun State have declared a fresh strike barely 24 hours after the suspension of a previous two-month industrial action.

It was gathered that the labour leaders declared the strike after discovering that only 50 per cent of salaries were paid to Grade Level 8 and above workers.
It would be recalled the workers had suspended the strike after signing Memorandum of Understanding on Monday, detailing how they wanted their salaries to be paid.

As part of the agreement, January salary was expected to be paid on Tuesday and February on Thursday but they said that the state government paid half to some workers.

Making his announcement to that effect on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Osogbo, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jacob Adekomi on Tuesday evening, told the workers not to resume as earlier directed.

But the state government appealed to workers, explaining that half payment was also paid to pensioners to make the available money go round.

The government in the statement on Monday said: “The attention of the State Government of Osun has been drawn to a growing discontent among workers in the state on the partial payment of salary to workers from Grade Level 08 and above. The Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, wishes to appeal for calm and understanding from all workers in the state.

“The Government wishes to state that it realised the need to accommodate our senior citizens, the pensioners, within the limited funds available in order to ensure an all-inclusive payment that will alleviate the hardship that the delay in salaries and pensions had caused. It should be noted that happiness never decreases by being shared.

“We are committed to meeting our obligations to the workers as more funds become available to settle such. This period calls for deep understanding of our challenges and we appeal to all and sundry for cooperation in this regard.”