Groaning under crushing economic hardship caused by
unpaid salaries, workers in Oyo and Osun states have
embarked on strike.
Specifically, labour unions in the two states directed their
members to embark on strike in order to press home
demands for the payment of owed salary arrears.
In Osun, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr.
Jacob Adekomi, who addressed a news conference in
Osogbo, on Monday, called on workers to begin a strike
today after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to
the state government.
Adekomi, who read from a text said, “That the 14-day
ultimatum issued to the government expired today
(Monday, May 25, 2015).
“That an indefinite strike action be commenced by all the
workers in the State of Osun as from Tuesday, May 26,
2015 due to the failure of the government to accede to our
legitimate demands, as contained in our letter to the
government dated May 12, 2015.
“The indefinite strike action will be total. Workers are
advised to stay at home while pressing home our demands.
That no worker should resume work until an anouncement
is made by the labour bodies to that effect.”
The labour union leader said that apart from the salary
issue, the state government had refused to remit the
contributory pension deductions from workers’ salaries to
their respective retirement saving accounts.
A factional state Chairman of the NLC, Mr. Gambi Yusuf,
when contacted said his faction was in support of the strike
since it was aimed at fighting for the right of the entire
workers in the state.
He said, “I am in support of it provided it is to fight for the
welfare of workers. It is okay by me. But these are the
same set of people who said before that the government
did not owe them.”
But the state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has appealed
to the workers to show understanding with him on the
issues.
Speaking through his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, the
governor said he had tried to ensure a prompt payment of
workers’ salaries despite the decline in allocation to the
state before the issue degenerated.
Okanlawon said, “At the heart of all these issues being
raised is insufficient fund. And regardless of the terrible
revenue crisis that has led us to this state as a country, we
must bear in mind the very prudent manner the
Aregbesola’s government has managed the affairs of Osun.
“Therefore, workers can be certain that once the revenue
complications are solved, all these issues will vanish. And
as a responsible government, we still appeal to workers to
show understanding – bearing in mind that at times when
even other states had started experiencing delays, Osun
used all it had to ensure workers did not feel the pang of the
national revenue crisis.”
Other unions present at the news conference included the
NLC, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Teachers,
Nigeria Senior Civil Service Union, Nigeria Union of
Journalists, among others.
The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress on
Monday said that in line with the directive of the national
leaders of NLC, all workers in the state should begin an
indefinite strike on Tuesday (today).
Chairman of the union in the state, Waheed Olojede, stated
after a meeting of the state executive that the action
became necessary after the state government owed months
of workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions. Olojede revealed
however that the state council had been in negotiation with
the state government for some months on the issue and
that an agreement had yet to be reached when the national
body of the NLC directed that the strike should commence.
He said, “You are all aware sufficiently that in the last few
months in Nigeria, many state governments have owed
salaries and pensions of their workers. Oyo State is one of
those states. In the last few months, we have commenced
negotiation with the state government on how best to pay
outstanding salaries and pensions of the workers and
retirees.
“We were on the process until last Friday when the national
headquarters of the NLC issued a directive, instructing all
state councils of NLC where governments are owing
salaries and pensions to begin industrial action as from
today, Monday 25, 2015. We have got in touch with the
national leadership of the NLC to make clarification on the
action.
“Even when we notified them that the state NLC had
commenced negotiation with the state government, the
directive from the national headquarters insisted that
notwithstanding our local arrangement, we must comply
and begin industrial action. Because of this and the fact that
no state council has the power to defy the authority of the
national NLC, we immediately called a meeting of the state
executive to review the directive and our process of
negotiation.
“We therefore resolve that because of the law that
established the NLC, no state congress is higher than the
national body. Arising from this position, we have therefore
resolved that we are left with no other option but to direct
all workers in Oyo State to respect the national directive and
stay at home from Tuesday (today).”
While expressing the optimism that the negotiation with the
state would still resolve the issue, Olojede called on the
state government not to abandon the negotiation, adding
that as soon as a resolution was reached, the state council
would approach the national headquarters of the NLC with a
view to getting the permission for the workers to resume
work.
“We appeal to the state government to show understanding
on this directive. The only condition that can make us
appear before the leadership of NLC is to have with us a
mutually agreed Memorandum of Understanding spelling
out how best and quickly salary and pension arrears can be
paid and how the state will continue to pay them promptly,”
he added.
NUT begins strike in FCT
Meanwhile, primary and secondary school pupils in the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were on Monday sent home
following an indefinite strike called by the Nigeria Union of
Teachers.
The union went on strike over some policies adopted by the
FCT administration that were not favourable to teachers.
The chairman, FCT Wing of NUT, Mr. Hassan Jibir, told The
PUNCH that the union had directed its members “to remain
at home and schools closed definitely until their demands
are met by the FCT administration.”
The contentious issues include reinstatement of 27.5 per
cent Teacher Salary Structure allowance; non-release of
promotion for teachers for years 2012, 2013, 2014 and
2015 and non-payment of 100 per cent rent allowance to
teachers.
He said, “Some categories of teachers and supervisors and
those working in the offices were affected by the TSS. In
2012, six secondary schools were affected while for
2013/2014, all primary, junior secondary and senior
secondary school teachers were affected.
‘‘For 2015, they are supposed to start the process but have
not done that till now.”
Jibir also called on the Minister of the FCT, Bala
Mohammed, to do the right thing so as to avert a crisis in
the FCT.
According to him, the minister did wrong with the policy on
the rent allowance for teachers which has been in line with
the Federal Government’s policy.
He said, “During the administration of Mallam Nasir el-
Rufai’, teachers on Grade level 1 to 6 received rent
allowance of 50 per cent of their basic salaries while those
on level 7 to 14 got 60 per cent of their basic salaries. Also,
level 15 to 17 were receiving 75 per cent of their basic
salaries.
“But when he discovered that the 50 per cent can’t pay rent
in FCT, el-Rufai made it 100 per cent. Former Ministers of
the FCT who succeeded him, Adamu Aliero and Abdulkahi
Moddibo, continued from where el-Rufai stopped.
“But Bala Mohammed came and reverted it to 50 per cent,
60 per cent and 75 per cent whereas rent in FCT has
increased tremendously since then. Instead of increasing it,
he reduced it.
“We are, therefore, asking for a reversal to the 100 per cent
that was started by el-Rufai, even if he can’t increase it.
This is our grouse.”
When one of our correspondents visited some schools in
the FCT, many parents were seen taking their children
home.
In a similar development, workers under the aegis of the
Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service
Technical and Recreational Services Employees have
threatened a showdown against state governments owing
salaries in the country.
This decision was reached at the 19th plenary session of
the association held in Akure, on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, the National President of the
association, Solomon Adelegan, said the non-payment of
salaries to workers had increased the poverty rate across
the country.
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