The organised labour in Ogun State on Tuesday gave the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, a 7-days ultimatum to address the issues surrounding remittance of 21 months workers deduction.
This was revealed in a statement issued to newsmen in Abeokuta jointly signed by Emmanuel Bankole , Akeem Lasisi, Isa Olude, the state Chairmen of, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) respectively.
They noted that the attention of the state government was called on June 7, 2022 through a correspondence on the growing restiveness among employees of the State Civil/Public Service.
They added that the correspondence was to call for immediate dialogue with the State Government.
According to the statement, they noted that it remained worrisome that there has not been neither official response nor acknowledgement to the letter as at date.
” We call for immediate remittance of 21 months of deductions.
“For clarity, these deductions are part of earned salary deducted from individual workers with the instructions that they be remitted to other recipients, that is, cooperative societies, Bank loan repayment obligations.
” The state government failed in remitting as appropriate.
” The deliberate breach of the state Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
” What obtains in the last 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 years of unpaid Statutory Leave Allowances. (The current administration owes nearly four (4) years of it).
” Restoration of payment of Gross Salary,” the statement stated.
According to the Labour leaders, 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 N5,000.
” 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 state government has clearly taken the State Civil/Public Service as one inconvenience treated with negligent stance.
“Mindful of the pathetic plight and the sustained agitations of our members however, we are inviting the state government to attend to the issues raised within the next seven days, effective from date of this reminder:.
The Organised Labour explained that they remained partners in the project of advancing the socioeconomic fortunes of the state and that they had 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,” they stated.