Osun workers resume strike over pay

Workers in Osun State on Monday resumed their strike action following the inability of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress and state officials to reach agreement on the implementation of the ₦18,000 minimum wage.

Government activities were paralyzed in all ministries and government establishments, as workers stayed off from duties while the gates at the government secretariat, Abere were under lock and key.

But the state chapter of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in a statement in Osogbo yesterday claimed the government has sought the understanding of the workers on the 100 percent application of the law to staff on grade Levels 01 to 07, while it applies the new salary to other levels from 08 to 17 on pro-rata basis.

Chairman of the party in the state, Adelowo Adebiyi said as stakeholders in the Osun project, workers have a duty to ensure rapid development through cooperation in the most favourable implementation of the new wage law.

"The governor personally called leaders of the workers to explain the position of the state's finances to them. Nothing was hidden and the labour leaders themselves have seen that 100 percent application across the board would mop up the entire resources of the state," he said.

"It is our belief that as stakeholders, labour leaders have the duty to properly convey this state of finance to their members in order to ensure progress in the state."

The party chairman also reminded the workers that the ACN is a pro-worker party, adding that it is the desire of the state government to make Osun workers the best paid in the country when the finances of the state improves.

"Workers in this state would end up discovering the goodies that lay ahead for them should they dedicate themselves to service to the people," he said.

"The issue of minimum wage should not cause any disaffection between the workers and the government in order to ensure development for this state."

The governor's spokesperson, Semiu Okanlawon said the government has fulfilled all the conditions necessary for the implementation of the ₦18,000 Minimum Wage Law.

"After an exhaustive meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Joint Negotiating Councils 1, 2 and 3, Mr Aregbesola agreed to pay the ₦18,000.00 to all workers on Grade Level 01 to 07 with immediate effect. By this concession, workers on salary Grade Level 01 would now be paid ₦18,000.00 as opposed to the ₦9,000 which they were earning before.

"Workers on salary Grade Levels 08 to 17 are being pro-rated in the implementation of the minimum wage in ascending order of magnitude. In essence, all workers are covered in the implementation of the Minimum Wage Law. Mr Aregbesola has given a firm commitment to full implementation of the Minimum Wage Law as soon as the finances of the state government improve. As at the time of negotiation, the governor explained that retirees and pensioners were being owed arrears of ₦2.4 billion of yet-to-be-paid claims."

New commissioners

Meanwhile, the Osun State House of Assembly Monday started the screening of 14 commissioner nominees submitted to it by the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola for approval. Mr Aregbesola had, in a letter dated July 28, 2011 addressed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam forwarded a list of 14 commissioner nominees to the house for approval. Consequently, Mr Salaam, who is currently on a trip to London, has directed that the screening start without further delay.

The commissioner nominees are Mofolake Adegboyega, Olubukola Oyawoye, Sikiru Ayedun Adetona, Samuel Adewale Afolabi, Richard Adedoyin, Stephen Kola-Balogun and Architech Olumuyiwa Ige. Others are Jayeoba Ismaila Alagbada, Mobalji Akande, Sunday Akere, Temitope Ilori, Wale Bolorunduro, Surajudeen Bashiru and Kolapo Alimi.