Osun workers suspend 2-month-old strike; ...signs Memorandum of Understanding with government

Striking civil servants in Osun State, on Monday, suspended their two-month-old strike with immediate effect following Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they entered into with the state government.

The decision to suspend the industrial action was reached after a meeting held in Osogbo, the state capital, between government team and leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

At the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between representatives of the NLC, led by its chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi and the government team, detailing resolutions arrived at by the parties.

According to the copy of the MoU, "both parties agreed to the following terms: that January and February 2015 salaries will be paid from Monday, 13th July, 2015. That March and April, 2015 salaries of local government workers and primary school teachers be paid as from Monday, 13th July, 2015.

"That the balance of pensions for state government retirees for the month of November, 2014 be paid as from Monday, 13th July, 2015. That the outstanding pensions for January, 2015 and pensions for February, 2015 for retired primary school teachers and March 2015 pensions for retired local government staff be paid as from Monday, 13th July, 2015.

"That all the outstanding deductions and pensions of December 2014 shall be settled as soon as bailout funds are received from the Federal government. That labour unions will suspend the ongoing strike on the basis of this memorandum to allow for all public service personnel audit and verification exercise as well as auditing of local government staff, primary schools' teachers and retirees take place, among others."

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Adekomi, said government had paid salaries for the months of January and February 2015 for secondary schools' teachers and those in the core civil service.

He stated that government had also agreed to pay the local government staff and primary school teachers March and April salaries, stressing that whenever the bailout funds from the Federal Government are released, arrears of salaries will be paid.

Adekomi further disclosed that it was also agreed that a committee comprising representatives of government and labour unions be set up to conduct screening for all categories of workers and pensioners with a view to knowing the actual wage bill and number of workers and pensioners in the state.

Credit: Nigerian Tribune