Ekiti Workers Call Off Strike Without Payment, Sign 7-Point Pact With Fayose, See List of Agreement Signed

The Ekiti State labour force has called off its 4 weeks old industrial action without government yielding to its demand of payment od salary arrears, but merely reached and signed an agreement with the State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose News Punch has learnt

According to a report, a 7-point demand agreement was signed at a ceremony in Ado-Ekiti between the workers leader and government representatives.

The government representatives included; the Secretary to the Govern­ment, Dr. Mrs Modupe Alade; the Head of Service, Dr. Gben­ga Faseluka and the Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo. 

The workers were; the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Ola­dipo Johnson; the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ade Adesanmi and state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Odun­ayo Adesoye. 

Among the resolutions reached were that;

1. 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 loan repayment;.
2. Payment of January 2016 salaries immedi­ately, and that of February as soon as Budget Support Fund is available.  
3. Giving priority to government’s obligations to public servants and payment of September 2014 salary of primary school teachers 
4. Payment of Leave Bonuses of local government employees.
5. Making N10 million available monthly to gradually defray outstanding gratuities, 
6. Release the report of the 2015 staff verification exercise
7. Making month­ly provision for capacity building of public servants. 

Speaking on the develop­ment, the Head of Service, expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by the labour leaders and the com­mitment of Governor Ayodele Fayose to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

He said the gap in the payment of salaries arose following the understanding between labour and govern­ment last September that 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, 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 salary. The state government appre­ciates the workers and value their support and coopera­tion,” he said.

The JNC Chairman, Comrade Oladipo John­son, said the suspension of the strike would allow further consultations and expressed thanks to workers for their support during the strike.