Ogun workers threaten showdown over minimum wage, 19 months deductions

Published on October 1, 2021

By Ishola Oludare

Workers in Ogun State, on Friday, threatened a showdown with Governor Dapo Abiodun over what they termed “unimpressive” implementation of the the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the 1government and the organised labour.

The workers recalled that government had signed an MoU with the organised labour in September 2020 on the implementation of the new minimum wage and other demands of the workers.

The MoU, DAILY POST gathered, followed a one week strike of the organised labour over its various demands in the State.

One year after the signing the MoU, the workers under the aegis of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, regretted that government’s implementation of the agreement had been “grossly unimpressive, morale dampening and ultimately sending helpless state employees to there early graves.”

In a letter signed by the Council Secretary, Olusegun Adebiyi, on September 23, and addressed to the Governor, Adebiyi explained that “the issues still subsisting in some of the signed MoU included proposed amendment (s) on State Contributory Pension Law;19 months of non payment of deductions; Gratuity payment and matters arising.

“Others are unpaid 7-year arrears of statutory leave allowance and adopted snail speed on staff promotion, amongst others.”

The Council Secretary added in his letter that the union had “painfully observed the lackluster attitude and lack of genuine commitment of the state government towards coursing any policy whatsoever to alleviate the fast deploring noticeable living conditions of its direct workforce.”

He maintained that the Council requested that a purposeful meeting with the Governor be conveyed so as to nip in the bud possible industrial disharmony in the state.

“It is obviously compelling therefore to respectfully request that a purposeful interface be conveyed with Your Excellency so as to nip in the bud possible industrial disharmony in the State Civil/Public Service.

“It is appropriate to reiterate that Council reposes its absolute confidence in dialogue which, as it were, was the ultimate outlet to collectively find lasting solution to the workers present predicament rather than resort to disruption of norms. Council strongly recommends that the proposed inevitable meeting be held at the earliest possible time,” he said.