Organised labour in Osun says he state government has no reason to further pay workers modulated salaries as well as maintain embargo on promotion since 2012.
Already, workers in the state has been directed to proceed on indefinite strike on Wednesday over payment of the modulated salaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers in the state had been receiving modulated salaries since 2015.
The payment regime entailed 100 percent salary for workers on grade levels one to seven, 75 percent for workers on grade levels eight to 12 and 50 percent for workers on grade levels 13 and above
The workers had demanded full payment of their salaries following the recent receipt of over N6 billion as Paris Club Refund by the State government.
But the State government is yet to respond to the demand.
Mr Jacob Adekomi, the Chairman of Osun Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who gave the directive to workers to embark on indefinite strike on Friday at a joint news conference of labour unions in Osogbo said with its current state of finances, the state can afford to pay the workers their full salaries.
Adekomi urged workers to participate fully in the strike to ensure its success, adding that it was to press home their demand for payment of full salaries.
According to him, the state government has no reason to further pay workers modulated salaries as well as maintain embargo on promotion since 2012.
“The declaration became necessary today being the last working day before the 21-day ultimatum given the state government expires,’’ he said.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun had in Osogbo on Thursday at a lecture organised to commemorate his seventh year in office commended the workers over their acceptance of the modulated salary regime.
While noting that 28 percent of the workforce take 50 percent of salaries monthly, the Governor noted that civil servants had demonstrated true friendship with government.
Aregbesola, however, called on the workers to be patient with the government, adding that their sacrifice for the development of the state was appreciated.
But the declaration of strike will indicate that the governor’s appeal has gone unheeded by workers.