NLC orders Osun workers to continue strike

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Osun State, Comrade Jacob Adekomi yesterday announced that workers in the state would resume their suspended industrial action with immediate effect. Adekomi, who spoke on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, late evening of yesterday, insisted that workers should not resume as earlier directed.

The reason, according to him was that some workers were not even paid up to 50per cent of their salaries for the salary paid by the state government, while some received 50 per cent and many are yet to receive theirs. Earlier yesterday, Osun State labour leaders had said that they were poised for a fresh confrontation with the state government over what it described as government insincerity on the payment of the workers’ salaries in the state for the months of January and February. Leaders of the workers in the state argued that, the agreement reached in the memorandum of understanding signed with the government to suspend workers strike on Monday has not been adhered to by the government.

They lamented that the government has betrayed the agreement by paying level one to seven workers their full January salary while those on level eight and above were only paid half of their salaries for the same periods. The labour leaders stressed also that, some workers are yet to receive banks alert, indicating the payment of their salaries.

Adekomi had told journalists yesterday that workers in the state would meet today or tomorrow (Thursday) in a congress to determine the next line of action. He stated that, the 50 per cent salaries in the state was rejected and unacceptable to the generality of the state workers and assured workers that, there would be no retreat, until the government agree to their position.

The NLC chairman while addressing the issue of those who are yet to receive alert on their salaries, he charged them to remain in their various homes until, they are alerted. In its reaction, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Director Of Publicity and Director and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi said: “the 50 percent received by the workers in the state was programmed before yesterday meeting with the labour leaders.”