Four weeks into the commencement of the industrial action in Osun State, SEFIU AYABIMPE writes on the ongoing feud between the government and the organised labour in the state as workers have vowed not to call off the strike unless the state government pays workers N18,000 minimum wage.
In spite of the carrot dangled at the organised labour in Osun State by the state government, the workers remained adamant. The state head of service, Elder Segun Akinwusi recently called on the workers to resume work last Monday because according to him, the strike was unnecessary since government is already sensitive to the yearnings of labour. The government insists that the present financial status of the state could only take care of workers in the grade levels 1-7 and other grade levels will increase in pro-rata as the finance of the state improves
It will be recalled that workers in the state had embarked on industrial action for the past four weeks to pressurize the government to implement the new N18, 000 Minimum Wage Act for its workforce across the grade levels in the state.
But despite the pleas from government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, artisans, market men and women, farmers and civil societies in the state, the workers insist that until the government yields to all their demands, they will not go back to work.
The workers frowned at the head of service directive describing it as a ploy to cause disaffection within the rank and file of its workforce.
In a press statement jointly signed by the Principal Assistant General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Acting Secretary, Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Acting Secretary Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Secretary Trade Union congress (TUC), Comrades Wale Oyeniyi, Matthew Nwasekin, G.A Bolarinwa and Kayode Adepoju respectively, labour directed the workers to continue with the on-going industrial action.
The statement also condemned in its entirety the threat issued by the state government to coarse the workers to resume duty in contravention of the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.
While assuring that labour would down tool if its demands are met unconditionally, they implored all well meaning indigenes of the state to prevail on the state government to implement without further delay, the N18, 000 minimum wage across board.
Akinwusi had in a state wide broadcast on the state owned radio and television services further stated that the desire of government was to ensure that all workers in the state public service enjoy maximum comfort and good life, a gesture he claimed necessitated ‘‘our offer to pay a N19, 001 as Minimum Wage to the least paid worker which is far higher than what the federal government instructed states to pay its workers”.
He recalled that in the course of negotiation, the state government opened up and gave out all the financial statements showing its income and expenditure since the beginning of this year.
Akinwusi stressed further that the government shifted its position four times to accommodate the position of workers while also taking into cognizance the interest of other sectors of the state.
Despite this offer and countless appeals by well-meaning elders and public spirited individuals across Osun state, the head of service noted that “a sizable number of workers controlling the vast majority who are willing and ready to resume work prefers to hold the state to ransom by insisting on forging ahead with the strike action despite strident appeals and persuasion as it is the norm in democratic setting”.
He reiterated the promise of the state government to pay N19001.00 as Minimum Wage to workers while N7429, N6611, and N5096 are to be paid to workers on Salary Grade Levels 08 to 10, Grade Levels 12 to 14 and Salary Grade Levels 15 to 17 respectively.
The head of service concluded that in view of the above decisions of the government on the issue of the minimum wage payment, all workers in the public service of Osun State were directed to resume at their various duty posts promptly on Monday just as he assured all workers of their safety and security at all times in the course of discharging their duties.
The state government said it would require additional N700million to be able to accommodate the full implementation of the new wage to workers, adding that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state stood at N300million while the monthly federal allocation to the state is in the range of N1.8billion totalling 2.1billion.
Government promised to set up the Salaries and Wages Commission which will fix salaries and wages of workers according to the increase in the financial fortunes of the state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that what triggered the crisis was labour’s meeting with the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola where the governor made it clear to them that the state government could not implement hundred percent of the new minimum wage to all levels of its workforce.
Aregbesola insisted that the resources of the state could only accommodate levels 01-07 on the minimum wage with hundred percent for now while other categories of workers would be considered between 60 percent to 35 percent increment.
He explained further that with the new implementation, the workers in the state would be receiving N1.9 billion out of N2.1 billion that accrue to the account of the state monthly and the government will be left with only 200million which he said can not execute any meaningful developmental projects.
During the negotiation, the Governor also informed the labour leaders that retirees and pensioners were being owed arrears of N2.4billion of yet-to-be-paid claims which was inherited from his predecessor.
However, the workers insisted that the state government has the resources to pay the new minimum wage to its workforce. Following the deadlock, labour served the state government an indefinite strike notice letter right at the venue of the meeting.
The letter dated August 5, was signed by the NLC state chairman, Comrade Saka Adesiyan, Acting secretary of NLC, Comrade Bolarinwa, TUC chairman, Comrade Adetunji, Secretary TUC, Comrade Kayode Adepoju, JNC chairman, Comrade Bayo Adejumo and Secretary, Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji. It reads: “We observe that negotiation on the implementation of N18, 000 new minimum wage to the workers of Osun state has deadlocked because the Osun state government failed to conclude negotiation with organized labour in Osun state in contravention of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2011.
Labour believes government has enough money to pay across board but decided to politicise the plight of workers. The NLC denied ever negotiating with government before it hurriedly approve the payment of N19, 001 as minimum wage from levels 01 to 07.
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