…Averts possible industrial disharmony between govt, labour
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has approved the payment of N25, 000 for workers and N15, 000 for Pensioners as wage award in the state.
With the move, the governor has laid to rest months of speculations and fear of breach of industrial harmony between the government and the workforce.
The governor said the payment which will take effect from October will be for six month at an additional cost of N2.2billion to the wage bill of the state.
Makinde made the disclosure in company of labour leaders including Comrade Kayode Martins (NLC), Comrade Bosun Olabiyi (TUC), Comrade Olaonipekun Oluwaseun (JNC Public Sector) while addressing workers at the entrance of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Other government functionaries including, Special Adviser (Labour Matters), Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, the Executive Assistant to the governor, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe among others also accompanied the governor during the address.
The workers had stormed the Governor’s Office as parts of decision taken during a Congress on Monday to ensure the issue is resolved once and for all.
Before announcing the figure, Governor Makinde appealed to the workers to show understanding with the state noting that many other people in the state are also passing through the hardship occasioned by the current economic situation and other sectors that are also begging for attention through the meagre resources of the state.
Speaking with reporters shortly after addressing the workers, Makinde said the additional cost, although is difficult for the state, it is the responsibility of the government to take care of its workforce.
Makinde said “What I said to the workers earlier was that we all understand that it’s a challenging period for us as a nation and as a state you have to look at your pocket and see what we can do and what I said to them was that for the wage award, we will give the pensioners N15,000 monthly for the next six month starting from October for them but they also ask that it should start from September, but I don’t know if we have enough money.
“And for workers, we are doing N25,000 to cushion the effect of economic challenges that we are all facing. So, I believe they heard me, I said to them that, this is not a case of the labour against the government, or the government against the labour, we are all in this together and we have to pull together to be able to go through the situation that we find ourselves.
“I promised them that on or before the end of this week they will begin to receive the alert of the payment. Everybody should by then have the wage award.”
Speaking on the cost implications on the state wage bill, governor Makinde said although, it will be tough, it is worth doing in the interest of the workers.
“Well, it is not convenient for the state. It is our reality but, we have the SAfER package for the generality of the state. For the workers also, we have to find a way of keeping things going. It will squeeze us further but government exists to look after the welfare of its workforce and the people of the state.”
Reacting, Comrade Kayode Martins and Comrade Bosun Olabiyi, NLC and TUC Chairman respectively said the announcement laid to rest the entire negotiation processes.
Comrade Martins said “As it is, we have agreed and resolved to N25,000 for the workers and N15,000 for the pensioners for the wage award and we appreciate the governor for the gesture. That will take us to some level.
“We appreciate God that our members were there when the governor made the pronouncements and everybody agreed to it. The negotiation has ended. It wasn’t that we agreed with the government behind them. The governor spoke to the people, addressed them and told them what he can do and that put the whole matter to a rest. What else are we suppose to do?”
Also Comrade Bosun said “And another thing we need to know from that is, we were actually asking for arrears from September and the governor in his magnanimity accepted October in full and what’s left is not about negotiating but to the discretion of the governor, is as to what he will be able to do from September and we feel its a very good point to start from.
“We looked at it, if we juxtaposed it with other states and what others are doing including what the Federal government is doing, we think it’s something that we can hold unto while we continue to push for other things. There are still other issues there that has to do with several other affiliates that we have to push for that too.
“The Congress came here. The discussion has ended and the negotiation is over.”
The workers had earlier in the day stormed the State Government Secretariat shortly after an enlarged Congress which held at the Labour House, American Quarters, Agodi, Ibadan on Monday.
The fear of an indefinite strike pervaded the atmosphere with many workers expecting its declaration at the Congress.
However, the workers arising from the ir disappointment in the leadership of the labour force insisted that they march to the State Secretariat to see the governor in person.
The workers who assembled at the entrance to the Governor’s Office for hours waited singing solidarity songs while the labour leaders went into a last minute discussion with the government team.
The arrival of the Governor to the office raised the hope of the workers as they welcomed him with singing and dancing.
