By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government on Wednesday declared the on going 3 days warning strike embarked upon by civil servants in the state as “absolutely illegal, unwarranted and unjustifiable “.
The government in a statement made available to newsmen on the strike signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Olalekan Alli also asked the striking workers ” not to absent themselves from duty, as doing so will attract the no-work no-pay rule according to the Trade Dispute Act 2010 Section43(1)(a).”
In the statement, Oyo state government maintained that there was no basis for the trade unions in the state to declare warning strike when there are moves for dialogue between the unions and the state government on the issues at stake.
“The Oyo State Government received a letter yesterday 23rd January, 2018 from Labour conveying its decision to embark on a three-day warning strike from 24th – 26th January, 2018 on the following issues:(a) alleged 17-month arrears of salaries of workers in the State’s tertiary institutions, (b) alleged 56-month arrears of pension and gratuity of retired primary school teachers, (c)
sack of 256 members of staff of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.” he said.
Alhaji Alli added in the statement that “upon receipt of the letter, Government invited Labour to a meeting which Labour promised to attend at 4pm yesterday.” but that
“despite our agreement, Labour failed to attend the scheduled meeting.”
‘In view of the foregoing, and while dialogue continues, Government views the unilateral declaration of a 3-day warning strike by Labour as absolutely illegal, unwarranted and unjustifiable. Government hereby appeals to Labour to shelve its illegal unilateral industrial action.” he said.
Alhaji Alli added that “similarly, Government enjoins all workers in the State not to absent themselves from duty, as doing so will attract the no-work no-pay rule according to the Trade Dispute Act 2010 Section43(1)(a).”
He emphasized that Oyo state government “has consistently honoured its obligations to Labour by ensuring monthly salaries are paid from the 100% FAAC allocation to the State and the Budget Support Fund including over 70% of other receivables (Excess Crude and Paris Club Reimbursement despite the Federal Government advice of 50% payment therefrom for salaries)
“Government has also been fulfilling its other responsibilities, commitments and functions using other resources such as IGR, Credits and Grants at its disposal to satisfy the yearnings of the people as would be expected.Salaries and pensions of workers at the State level have been paid up till and including November 2017 with only one (1) month salary and pension (December 2017) outstanding.”
On the Tertiary institutions downed by the Oyo state government, the SSG stressed further that “by the laws setting up the tertiary institutions, Government is NOT responsible for the payment of salaries of workers in those institutions” but that “in order to assist them, Government is ONLY obliged to grant the tertiary institutions SUBVENTIONS, which each institution would apply to whichever area of need that its Governing Council and Management may decide upon.”
According to Alhaji Alli, “the recent forensic audit reports on the tertiary institutions revealed a great deal of shortcomings such as inefficiencies, leakages, poor management, and other ineptitudes. Some institutions were even declared unsustainable and unviable. The consultant further recommended their closure. However, the recently constituted Governing Councils have been mandated to review their statuses and act suitably.”
” Contrary to Labour’s allegation, although Government on assumption of office in 2011, inherited Local Government Pension arrears totalling N4,736,741,934.49, it is on record that Government has disbursed pensions and gratuity of retired primary school teachers to the tune of N11,729,534,282.54. Meanwhile, to avert further build up and eliminate the hardship arising therefrom, the Contributory Pension Scheme has been adopted as a solution to effectively address the issue.”.
It will be recalled that workers in Oyo State on Wednesday, embarked on a 3-day strike in solidarity with workers of the six tertiary institutions in the state who are currently on an indefinite strike over non-payment of their salary arrears.
The decision to embark on the warning strike was arrived at on Monday during a meeting of the Oyo State Executive Councils (SECs) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) which was affirmed on Tuesday by the workers after their meeting at the NLC secretariat, Yidi, Agodi Gate, Ibadan.
The workers alleged Oyo state government of being insensitive with its failure to pay the over 17-month salary arrears owed the tertiary institutions’ workers and 56-month pension owed retired primary school teachers.
