By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo state suspended its seven weeks old strike as the state government finally agreed to pay two of the seven months salaries owed the workers.
It was learnt that workers and pensioners in the civil service of the state would receive January and February 2016 arrears of salaries and pensions within the next two weeks in a staggered arrangement from the available N3.49bn.
Sources at the meeting said the February salaries and pension would be paid within the next two weeks on the receipt of the next allocation from the Federation Account.
According to agreement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, among others on the side of the government, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Waheed Olojede, state president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, state secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, the state government is to prevail on banks to grant workers loan moratorium of two months on their January and February salaries and pensions.
“That the total amount received from the Federation Account in the month of June was N2.1bn and additional N1.39bn, being the first tranche of the budget support facility received from the federal government. This brings the total available sum to N3.49bn in the government coffers that could immediately be utilised for payment of salaries, wages and pensions of the state workforce for the month of January.
“That salaries and pensions for two months be paid within two weeks (of the agreement) on the receipt by the state of her share of federal allocation accordingly. That there would be the need for sacrifice from both sides resulting in adjustments of the state’s obligations and entitlements to various stake holders in order to realise this payment.
Speaking with journalists, the SSG, Alli urged the workers to consider the suspended labour unrest a lesson for all on the imperativeness of dialogue to resolve disagreements.
