Planned Strike Averted In Ondo As Governor Pays Six-Month Arrears

A planned industrial action was averted in Ondo state after the state government paid six out of the seven-month salary arrears owed civil servants by the immediate past administration.

The labour unions had threatened industrial action due to backlog of salaries despite the N20 billion Paris Club refund the state got from the federal government.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had demanded that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should pay workers’ salary arrears or face the consequences of indefinite strike.

The Chairman of NLC, Tayo Ogunleye, Soladoye Ekundayo of TUC and Abel Oloniyo of JNC gave the state government seven days ultimatum to pay the arrears with the refund.

However, Ogunleye during the weekend said that “the state government has paid six out of the seven-month salary arrears with the promise to pay the remaining one month before the end of January.”

He noted that the leadership of the organised labour had not compromised on the strike but only negotiated with the government on the welfare of workers.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye who confirmed the payment of salary arrears and the withdrawal of the ultimatum said the governor at inception on 24th February 2017, inherited seven months’ salary arrears of workers in the State.

“Akeredolu has vowed to clear the arrears and prioritise the welfare of workers. Today, he has kept to the promise; in less than two years in office, he has paid six months arrears out the seven months inherited.

“The governor does not view the payment of salary as achievement; rather, he sees it as a responsibility of government.

“Only arrears of December 2016 is yet to be paid. By the end of this year, workers in Ondo State would have collected salary for 15 months – 12 in the year and three arrears of past years,” Ajiboye said.