Dr John Kayode Fayemi
Earlier today, Monday, August 3, workers in Ekiti State had began a three-day warning strike over welfare and other sundry issues.
The strike was as a result of the 14-day ultimatum that organized Labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council issued to the state government which expired Sunday, August 2. Few hours later, the strike was called off due to the government’s readiness to meet some of the demands outlined by organized labour at the meeting held on Sunday midnight.
Prior to this, the strike action started with full workers compliance as report indicates that offices at the New Secretariat along new Iyin road and old Governor’s office at Oke Ori Omi were deserted while few staff were seen performing skeletal works in their respective offices. This also included hospitals except for National Health Insurance Scheme.
According to reports, a communique was issued in Ado-Ekiti on Monday at the end of the negotiation meeting held by both government and labour delegations, where the government agreed to immediately effect the financial benefits of 2015 promotion by September, 2020, while that of the 2016 to 2019 will follow. The Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi , Senior Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Com. Oluyemi Esan and the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Service Matters, Mr. Bayo Opeyemi led government’s delegation that met with the labour leaders . The communique jointly signed by the two negotiating sides leading to the suspension of the strike reads:
“That government will continue to pay the gross salaries of workers. “That government will effect payment of financial benefits for 2015 promotion by September while that of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 will follow. “That payment of outstanding deduction for the month of May, 2020 to be paid in phases and to pay outstanding deductions, salaries and leave bonuses in phases. “That negotiation on the implementation of the new minimum wage and consequential adjustment will resume as soon as COVID 19 subsides. “That other issues affecting public service in relation to service matters shall be looked into. “Therefore, the three days warning strike proposed to commence on Monday, 3rd August, 2020 , is called off immediately,” it stated.
