OSUN WORKERS INSIST ON GOVT'S COMPLIANCE WITH TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Workers in Osun State have vowed to continue to stay at home until the State Government complies with the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the labour unions on Monday.

Following the signing of the MoU, the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state had called off their six-week strike, urging members to return to work on Tuesday.

But the workers, after resuming on Tuesday, decided to return to their homes citing a breach of the agreements reached in the MoU by the State Government.

According to Wakes Amuda, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state, it was
agreed that the government would pay two months salaries of the workers, including teachers.

He said when the bank alerts came, the salaries were cut by 50 per cent, resulting in the refusal by the workers to return to work.

There was, however, confusion in Osogbo on Wednesday as a statement issued from the NLC urged workers to return to work.

The statement which was signed by the NLC Chairman, Jacob Adekomi and Joint Negotiating Council Chairman, Bayo Adejumo, said workers should now resume on Thursday as further negotiations had resolved all pending issues.

The statement read: “after due consultations between the government and the leadership of the Joint Labour Movement in the state, we hereby resolve as follows:

1. That government has assured the leadership of the joint labour movement of its continuous commitment to payment of full salaries.

2. That the entire leaders of the labour movement in the state are hereby assured that the leadership of our movement are on top of the situation and we will continuously stand for the defence and protection of the interests, welfare and rights of all members at all times without disappointment;

3. That all workers are hereby directed to resume duties and continue working at their various duty positions.

4. That the leadership of the labour movement hereby (directs) that nobody should disturb any worker from carrying out their constitutional assignments.”

But the NUT Chairman said such letter was yet to get to his notice. He wondered how such statement would be made when the irregular payments had not been rectified.

“I have not heard that we should return to work. As far as I am concerned, we have decided to stay at home until the complete money has been paid,” he said.

Mr. Amuda noted that the government reneged on its promise to pay the salaries of the months of January and February and would pay the rest after receiving the bailout.

He added that the release for workers to return to work in spite of the non-compliance was strange, saying he would make efforts to find out the true position.