Workers in Oyo state on Thursday threatened to embark on strike if the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi failed to meet with their welfare demands within 24 hours.
The notice of the strike was contained in a press release issued and signed by the Secretary of Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ibrahim Mohamed, and the secretary of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Lukman Balogun, after a meeting of all Public Service Union in the state yesterday.
The release stated that the members acknowledged the commitment of the state government to the welfare of workers which include: upgrading of the directorate cadre from grade level 16 to grade level 17, in tandem with the Scheme of Service in the Federal Civil Service level, Lifting embargo placed on lateral conversion and transfer across all cadre in the public service and immediate payment of May, 2019 salary/pension to all workers and pensioners in Oyo state.
The labour unions however stated that an enabling circular and necessary documents supporting item 1 and 2 should be made available within the new ultimatum.
They said further to this, the government is expected to meet the following demands in order to avert impending industrial action, which include: payment of at least one month arrears of financial benefit of promotion to primary school teachers.
Others are: payment of at least one month arrears of salary to local governments’ workers who are in arrears namely: Lagelu, Egbeda, Ogbomoso North and South, Surulere, and Ibadan North West Local Governments.
The statement reads further that the state government should pay the remaining arrears of salary to health workers under the umbrella of JOHESU, and immediate enhancement of security within the State Hospital at Ring road, Ibadan.
The union also appealed to the Governing Board of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital to reinstate the sacked workers at the hospital and release letter of promotion up to 2016 as being enjoyed by other sectors in the state.
The labour union however said that if all the above demands are not met within 24 hours, the leadership of all unions in the Public Service in Oyo state shall not be able to guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the state with effect from Friday, 24th of May 2019.
