NLC directs Osun workers to resume work

SEGUN ADEYEMI
The Osun State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in the state to resume work again.

The directive was contained in a statement jointly signed by the NLC Chairman, Mr. Jacob Adekomi and the Chairman of Joint Negotiation Council, Bayo Adejumo, and made available to Hallmark in Osogbo, yesterday.

Labour unions had on Monday announced the suspension of the strike that started since May 26 over the non-payment of six months salaries of workers after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the government.

On Tuesday evening, the NLC chairman directed workers to resume strike after the government paid 50 percent of their January salaries which was a violation of the MoU signed, that two months salaries would be paid.

Adekomi and Adejumo in the statement issued on Wednesday, directed workers to resume work, saying they had an assurance from Governor Rauf Aregbesola, that their salaries would be paid in full.

The statement reads in part, “After due consultation between the government and the leadership of the Joint Labour Movement in the state, we hereby resolve as follows:

“That government has assured the leadership of the labour movement of its continuous commitment to payment of full salaries. All workers are hereby directed to resume duties and continue working at their various duty positions.”

Meanwhile, the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has said that journalists from the council may not participate in the National Delegates Conference of the union scheduled for next week in Abuja.

The chairman of the union, Mr. Abiodun Olalere and secretary, Mr. Bamgbola Gbolagunte, said this in a communiqué issued after an emergency congress of the union, saying lack of fund might stop journalists in the state from joining their colleagues to elect new leaders of the union.

The communiqué reads, “The union has done everything practically possible to raise fund for the National Delegates Conference, but to no avail.

“The state cannot even fulfil its financial obligations to the national secretariat of the union as a result of the same reason. The union dues deducted from members are not forthcoming.”

The chairman appealed to members to bear with the leadership of the union, as the union is not immune to the economic realities of the state.