24th June, 2022
Adejoke Adeleye/Abeokuta
Workers in Ogun have threatened to embark on strike in the past seven days if the state government did not address their various concerns related to their welfare and pension issues.
The workers in a press statement by the chairpersons of Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) Com. Emmanuel Bankole,Trade Union Congress (TUC) Com. Akeem Lasis, and Com. Isa Olude of JNC called attention to growing restiveness among employees in the state Civil and Public Service.
They said while they have called for immediate dialogue with the State Government, there has not been neither official response nor acknowledgement to the letter as at date.
The joint labor Congress therefore asked the state government to attend to the issues within the next seven (7) days, effective.
The labour congresses outlined 6 challenges facing workers in the state which they said the present administration has failed to tackle.
Labour accused the state government of failure to remit 21 months deductions of workers to recipients like cooperative societies, Bank loan repayment obligations, among others.
Labour also accused the state government of deliberate breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The labour unions said, “What obtains, in the last thirteen (13) years, is one-sided practice of the Ogun State Pension Law [2006] amended in 2013 with unfailing monthly deduction of 7.5% of Basic salary from all State employees whilst the counter part payment of 7.5% from the State Government, as the law stipulates, is nil.
“Eight (8) years of unpaid Statutory Leave Allowances. (The current administration owes nearly four (4) years of it).
Restoration of payment of Gross Salary.
“It is evident that nearly all payment-related issues raised arise from the failure of the State Government to give approval to the payment of Gross Salary. Suffice to view the situation as State Government deliberate policy of anti workers’ welfare programme to entrench poverty and spread of agonies.
“Non implementation of Consequential Adjustment on Minimum Pension as mandated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Disheartening enough, as at date, the minimum pension in the State remain as paltry as five thousand (#5000)!
“2021 and 2022 promotion exercise must be accorded the priority it deserve.
“The State Government have taken the statutory exercise as though it is a favour.
“Various agreements and official pronouncements of the State Government have been largely pitted in the negative.
The labour unions accused Prince Dapo Abiodun led Ogun State government of taking the state Civil and Public Service as one inconvenience treated with negligent stance.
“The Organised Labour who regards itself as partners in the project of advancing the socioeconomic fortunes of our dear State and thus has been quite accommodating in spite of failed promises.
“Averting the imminent labour unrest would be ideal at this juncture hence our call for dialogue.
“Do please be eminently assured of our esteemed considerations, Your Excellency,” the labour unions said.