JNC directs Oyo workers to commence indefinite strike Friday

BARRING an urgent intervention by the state government, workers in the public and civil service will on Friday commence an indefinite strike.

The Public Service Joint Negotiating Council (PSJNC), Oyo Council, issued this directive in a circular titled, *Unresolved Labour issues in Oyo State: Notice of an Indefinite strike,” signed by state Secretary of the joint negotiating council, Mr Akinfenwa Olabode and made available to Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday.

Among other issues, the strike is particularly to demand for a reversal of “technical withdrawal” of workers 2012-2016 promotions, failure to clear the 17 months salary arrears of staff of state-owned tertiary institutions.

Friday’s strike will be preceded by a congress of all workers on Thursday, at labour house, Ibadan.

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This declaration comes after three days warning strike between January 16th and 18th over the failure of the state government to give the promotion financial backing since its approval last year.
The circular read, “Following series of our correspondences and inconclusive meetings between labour and the state government on issues affecting public/civil servants in the state, especially the technical withdrawal of state workers five years outstanding and legitimate promotions and the failure of the state government to proffer an acceptable solution to the lingering labour issues in the state, all workers in public/civil service are hereby directed to commence an indefinite strike on Friday 15th February 2019.”

Confirming the strike declaration, Chairman, PSJNC, Oyo, Mr Emmanuel Ogundiran said engagements held with the state government continued to be unfruitful hence its decision to call for the strike.

Ogundiran further noted that the governor was scheduled to meet with labour on Tuesday but that they waited in vain at labour house and the meeting failed to hold.

Meanwhile, various government sources expressed surprise at the timing of the directive of the workers’ union, noting that the governor was still keen on meeting with the JNC to avert the strike.

Noting that the promotion implementation with financial backing was bound to come, the sources said the labour should consider that the state prayed for improved finances to adequately attend to various demands of governance.