Oyo State Trade Union Congress (TUC) has issued a five-day ultimatum to the state government to “immediately offset” a backlog of eight months’ unpaid salaries to workers.
Its Chairman, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, issued the warning in Ibadan following the expiration of the period offered to the government.
The union, which described the alliance between the government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as unholy, emphasised that a recent deal signed to end the industrial deadlock was not a true reflection of the yearnings of the various unions.
“We condemn in strong term the agreement between Oyo Government and NLC. It is totally condemned and vindictive. We shall not accept these conditions. It is a fraud and we will not be part of such agreement that is inimical to the future of workers.
“An extra five days ultimatum will be given to the state government to pay all outstanding arrears with interest. The people should start preparing for a mass action to occupy the state secretariat on August 8, 2016, should the government refuse to meet our demands.
“You will recall that the Oyo State Government and the NLC entered into an unholy alliance by signing a lactiferous and satanic agreement that is inimical to industrial harmony in the state. The agreement is illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable to the TUC.
“We condemn it in strong term as we see the sophisticated and nonsensical resolution, which allows government to sack workers and reduce work-force. The agreement is baseless and callous; we reject it in all its form and entity. It is a product only good for the dust bin,” Emelieze said.
He condemned the pronouncement by the state government to restructure the public service, which, the TUC leader claimed, is aimed at sacking workers.
Similarly, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Chairman Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran said there was a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the government and the unions.
But he noted that the leadership of the public service, the JNC, was not carried along in the agreement that was signed.
“Our jurisdiction has been encroached. All stakeholders must come together to put an end to this shortcoming. Government should do the needful,” Ogundiran said.
