Ajimobi threatens striking workers with no work, no pay

By OLA AJAYI

IBADAN – OYO State government yesterday warned the striking workers who rejected the N19,987 minimum take home pay that it would apply the principle of no work no pay against any worker that failed to resume duty.

The workers while rejecting the new pay announced by the Governor on Monday after a meeting with labour leaders in the state, cited some unresolved grey areas as reason.

The workers’ action dashed the hope that the strike would be called off yesterday after the governor had on Monday appealed to theem to end their industrial action since all their demands had been met.

The government said in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Akin Olajide that it had opened a register for all workers in its employ and would deal decisively with absentees.

According to the statement “The governor offered the least paid staff on GL 01 who used to earn N10,876.47 the sum of N19,987 and the highest paid staff on GL 17 who used to earn N72,004 N139,440.55.”

The State Government reiterated that the amount it was offering the 38,185 workers represented the total  of 92 per cent  of its total income and would not bend backwards further.

The workers resolved yesterday to intensify the struggle and demanded the implementation of the new federal tax regime that would not erode any gains made in the minimum wage.

Speaking, State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Bashir Olanrewaju and Nurudeen Arowolo, chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, vowed that the industrial action would continue until government addressed their demands.