PARIS CLUB REFUND: As Aregbesola gets N6.3bn, Osun workers demand full salary or strike

Following the reception of N6.3 billion Paris Club loan refund by Osun, the state’s workers have vowed to proceed on strike should Governor Rauf Aregbesola, not pay them full salary.

The workers in the state have for a very long time continued to receive half payment of their salaries, but after the state government got N6.3 billion from the third tranche of the Paris Club loan refund, the workers said that except the governor reverted to paying them full salary and arrears they will by December 27, proceed on an indefinite strike.

The strike notice was given by the Osun State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) on behalf of the workers in a statement issued on Friday following an emergency meeting of labour leaders on Thursday.

The chairmen JPSNC, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bayo Adejumo; Tunde Adekomi and Bowale Adekola respectively, and leaders of various affiliate unions signed the notice.

“Consequent upon the refusal of the government of Osun State to accede to the demands of the workers and pensioners as contained in our letter of Tuesday, December 5, 2017, the workers of Osun State will be proceeding on an indefinite strike by 27th December, 2017,” the notice read in part.

According to the leaders, workers should stay at home until they receive another directive from them concerning the strike.

Earlier on Tuesday, the labour leaders had disagreed with Governor Aregbesola over his persistence in paying November salary with the modulated scheme which makes workers from grade level 08 and above collect between 50 and 75 per cent of their salaries.

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The modulated salary scheme has been on in the state since September 2015. However, the workers are of the view that with the payment of different tranches of Paris Club refund that the state now has the financial capacity to pay them full salaries.

But the governor, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, had urged the workers to still exercise more patience till the state was able to go back to paying full salary.

 

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