Osun workers reject half salaries

Gov Aregbesola

Fresh crisis is brewing between labour   unions and the Osun State Government following the rejection of the 50 per cent of salaries paid by the government into workers’ accounts.

The workers had on Monday announced the suspension of the strike they embarked upon since May 26 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government.

But the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Mr. Jacob Adekomi, while addressing journalists on Tuesday said, “We are rejecting the payment of half salaries because that was not what we agreed on. All affiliate unions of the labour will meet later today ( Tuesday) to deliberate on the issue. But those that have not been paid at all can remain at home.”

Also, some local government workers told our correspondent around 2pm on Tuesday that they had yet to receive alert from their banks.

But the All Progressives Congress in the state has appealed to workers to show understanding with the government, saying the balance of their salaries would be paid very soon.

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who addressed journalists, said the payment of 50 per cent of the salaries was inadvertently done.

“The 50 per cent was already programmed. That was done before the Memorandum of Understanding was signed with workers.

“Unfortunately, it is a communication gap. There was no intention to pay the half salary and the payment will not stop at the payment of 50 per cent. Government will pay all.

“We are appealing to the workers to show understanding with the government. Their salaries will be paid in full. It will be implemented soonest.”

The APC’s spokesperson had in a statement earlier rallied the workers’ support for the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, saying the workers should continue to support the governor in his efforts to transform the state.

He explained that the non-payment of the salaries was caused by corruption in the oil sector during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The statement partly read, “It was, therefore, totally misplaced anger that was directed at Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the crisis. Those who sponsored and propagated the misplaced anger did so out of envy that Aregbesola was raising Osun above their ignoble pedestal of impoverished ideas.”

“Now that it is an open secret that the PDP government led by Goodluck Jonathan was the thief that stole the nation broke; we call for greater understanding from both the labour union and the workers to help the state address the aftermath of this PDP crime against our country