The Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded for the payment of outstanding salary deductions and other entitlements of workers in the state from January 2023 till date before next Monday, noting that the industrial harmony in the state cannot not be guaranteed if they aren’t paid.
The union also admonished the state government to roll out palliative measures in good time to cushion the effects of subsidy removal as being done in other states, saying the cost of living has gone up and has really made life very difficult for the masses.
These were contained in a communique issued and read by the state chairman of the union, Comrade Kayode Martins at a press conference held on Thursday in Ibadan.
According to him, the Labour Movements in the state have met on the prevailing situations in the country, most especially on issues pertaining to the welfare of workers and the entire masses in the state, hence the resolve of the union to demand the state government to release the outstanding salary deductions of workers and other entitlements from January till date to enable them cope with the present economic situation.
He said: “We still have some of our salaries being witheld from January till date, which is staff deductions. Secondly, we demand that government should release outstanding leave bonuses and promotions of workers over the years. Take for instance, that of 2021 was pronounced by the governor, and as of today, some workers are yet to receive their letters.
“So, we are asking and demanding that year 2022 and 2023 promotion be put in place. We are asking that the government should commence the payment for gratuities to retirees, because things have changed economically.
“We also demand that pension be reviewed in the state in other to economically strengthen the pensioners. Pension was done over the decades, meaning that those who retired years back are still receiving same amount of money despite the inflation and the current situation of things which have changed, a development which has weakened their economic capacity.”
While lamenting the current situation in the country, Comrade Martins demanded that palliative measures be put in place by the state government to make life easy for the people as being done in other states noted that the removal of subsidy has really made life difficult for the entire masses, saying the development has made it difficult for workers to come to work.
“As of today, we can tell you that workers find it difficult to resume at their respective offices because of financial hardship, so we ask that all our demands be granted by the state government between now and Monday, otherwise, we cannot guarantee the industrial harmony in the state, he said.
In his remarks, the state Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Olatunbosun Olabiyi said the demands by the union has nothing to do with the hike in fuel prices but the current situation of things in the state.
“Fuel Subsidy removal is not a state issue but a national issue and both the NLC and TUC have made their position properly known on the issue. We are never against subsidy removal but what we are saying is that government should put in place palliatives that will cushion the hardship.”
