Unpaid 34 months salary arrears: Osun NLC declares 3-day warning strike

THE seeming cordial relationship between Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration and the labour unions in Osun appears heading for the rocks on Tuesday as the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state ordered the workforce to embark on a three warning strike to protest unpaid 34 months arrears owed some categories of civil servants.

Tribune Online authoritatively gathered that the industrial action is billed to commence from Wednesday to Friday this week.

In a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Osogbo, the labour leaders affirmed that “sequel to the various correspondence and discussion between the state government and the joint labour movement, bordering essentially on the deplorable condition of workers and pensioners in the state to which the state government has not responded positively,” the workers have been directed to begin a three day warning strike.

It added that the state government had failed to meet the request of the labour movement as contained in the letter dated 7th of August 2018, through which 21-day ultimatum was issued to the government which expired today 28th August. 2018.

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According to the communique signed by the NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, chairman of the JPSNC, Comrade Bayo Adejumo, Chairman, JPSNC and the state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), NLC Comrade Adebowale Adekola among others, the labour unions threatened to embark on an indefinite one if their demands were not met at the end of the three day warning strike.

Other demands listed in the communique apart from the 34 months salary arrears of 50% for officers on GL.08 and above which is an equivalent of seventeen months full salary include payment of 34 months pension arrears of retired workers in the state, remittances of 34 months contributory pension arrears.

The workers were also demanding for the payment of outstanding gratuity to all pensioners in the state and payment of 2016 leaves allowances across board to workers in the employ of the state government.