Workers suspend 4-week old strike in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
Public servants in Ekiti State on Friday suspended their four-week old strike.

This followed the signing of an agreement with the State Government.

At the end of a prolonged meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state government and the central labour unions agreed to a seven-point deal before the industrial action was suspended.

On the government side were the Secretary to the Government, Dr Modupe Alade, the Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka and the Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo.

On the side of the labour were the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Mr Oladipo Johnson, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ade Adesanmi and State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Odunayo Adesoye.

Among the resolutions agreed to were: that the state government should within seven days conclude its request with commercial banks to restructure personal loans granted public servants with a view to giving them relief from repayment.

Others include payment of January 2016 salary immediately and the payment of February salary as soon as Budget Support Fund is available.

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They also agreed on giving priority to government’s obligations to public servants, payment of Sept. 2014 salary of primary school teachers as well as Leave Bonus of local government employees in the nearest possible time.

They also agreed on making N10 million available monthly to gradually defray outstanding gratuities, release the report of the 2015 staff verification and making monthly provision for capacity building of public servants.

Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by the labour leaders and the commitment of Gov. Ayo Fayose to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

He said the state’s resources and statutory allocations were no longer adequate to pay salaries and there was need to merge two allocations to pay a month’s salary.

“When you have such a situation on hand, it is obvious that when you get to 12 months, there would be a gap of six months.

“The arrangement started and we were combining two allocations to pay a month’s salary, the state government appreciates the workers and value their support and cooperation’’, he said.

The JNC Chairman, Mr Oladipo Johnson, said the suspension of the strike would allow for ‎further consultations and thanked workers for their support during the strike.

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