From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Related News

Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) in Oyo State have given Governor Abiola Ajimobi five days ultimatum to settle all outstanding salaries or face indefinite strike.
Leaders of TUC and JNC, Messrs. Emelieze Andrew and Emmanuel Ogundiran, told newsmen in Ibadan yesterday the latest ultimatum was given following the expiration of the initial 16-day ultimatum given to the state to settle all outstanding salaries or face indefinite strike.
The unions, however, condemned the recent agreement that leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) entered with the government that culminated into suspension of a seven-week strike embarked upon by workers, describing it as baseless and callous.
“You will recall that the Oyo State Government and the NLC entered into an unholy alliance by signing a lactiferous and satanic agreement that is inimical to industrial harmony in the state. The agreement is illegal and unacceptable to TUC.
“We condemn it in strong terms as we see the sophisticated and nonsensical resolution which allows government to sack workers and reduce workforce,” Andrew said.
The leaders of the unions told Governor Ajimobi to resign if the state could no longer pay workers’ salaries.
Also, the JNC leader, Ogundiran, described the agreement, “which only stipulates paying of salary alone excluding other allowances as antithetical to well-being of the workforce in the state.”
A statement by the TUC state Chairman and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ilesanmi Lawrence, said it was most unfortunate that the government did not deem it fit to consult with us despite our correspondence to them.”