Ondo workers reject half-percentage mode of salary

Workers in Ondo State have vowed to reject the half percentage mode of salary payment by the state government, charging the state governor,  Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, to look inward and seek efficient ways to settle unpaid workers’ salaries in their state.

The workers who hinged their decision to reject percentage salaries on the high prices of essential commodities, said workers in the state have been facing untold hardship following the astronomical increase in the prices of food and other essential items

The workers position was contained in a Communique by the worker’s union, after the meeting of the leadership of the State Executive and Administrative Councils of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), in Akure, and maintained that workers will no longer accept percentage salaries.

The state leadership of TUC also charged governor Akeredolu to immediately retool the finances of the state government to enable his administration settle salary arrears of workers from March, 2021 to date.

The TUC who expressed its sympathy with the state workers on the current economic situation in the country, noted the increase in the prices of food and other essential items, with no increase in workers salaries.

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The TUC leadership which commended  the Ondo State Health insurance scheme, but  called on the state government not to commence its implementation until all issues surrounding the scheme are resolved and until the state government resumes 100 percent salaries payment.

The communique read: “The State Executive and Administrative Councils of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Ondo State met on Thursday, 24th June 2021 and extensively deliberated on a number of issues ranging from the percentage payment of workers’ salaries; the implementation of Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme; and the Non-capturing of secondary school teachers by the Federal Mortgage Bank.

We however, resolved as follows that: “The Council expressed satisfaction with the disposition of Ondo State Government to the  various ongoing capital projects in the state.

“The SAC and SEC in-session empathised with workers on the current economic situation in the country especially the astronomical increase in the prices of food items.

“Having carefully examined  the plethora of concerns of workers on percentage payment of salaries by the state government especially at this critical time, and with the ever rising prices of food items, drugs and medication, and other basic amenities of life, which are no longer within the reach of  ordinary Nigerians, the council therefore calls on the state government to re-engineer its finances to offset the four months arrears of workers salaries and halt any further percentage payment of workers’ salaries as workers will no longer accept any form of percentage payment of their monthly salaries henceforth.

“The council embraces the Ondo State Health insurance scheme as laudable but calls on the state government not to commence its implementation until all issues surrounding it e.g amount deductible, coverage areas of the scheme etc and arrears of salaries are fully paid and government resumes 100 percent payment of monthly salaries.

“The council resolved to invite the leadership of the Federal Mortgage bank for a meeting to know why secondary school teachers are yet to join the National housing scheme.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE