The All
Progressives Congress has faulted the decision of the leadership of the
Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State chapter, to order workers to embark
on an industrial action.
The Oyo state chapter of the APC accused the NLC of not following “due process or due consideration” before taking the decision.
In a
statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by its Director of Publicity and
Strategy, Mr. Olawale Sadare, the APC expressed shock over the manner in
which the state chapter of the NLC declared the industrial action,
saying there was ongoing efforts by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to offset
the salary arrears.
“We
received the news of the strike as ordered by the state chapter of the
NLC with shock in view of its timing and the fact that the governor was
never comfortable owing staff their dues as demonstrated in greater part
of his first term in office. The situation that led to the inability of
the state government to continue with prompt payment of workers’
salaries was well known to the public as Sen. Abiola Ajimobi has also
received kudos from many dissidents for managing the problem well enough
to reduce its negative to its barest minimum,” Sadare said.
According
to him, apart from the country’s oil-producing states and few others
which draw high internally generated revenues, Oyo is ranked first among
states of the federation that pay staff salaries and allowances
promptly.
He
also claimed that the state governor held the record of being the best
in terms of fair treatment of workers despite the fact that his
government constantly faced the challenges of insufficient funds.
The
statement said in part, “However, we would like to remind the public
that Governor Ajimobi had demonstrated his empathy over the issue of
salary arrears when he discouraged his supporters from staging or
organising any victory party on his behalf following his re-election on
April 11, 2015. It is on this premise that the governor has also opted
for a low-key inauguration ceremony this Friday.
“By and
large, our appeal goes to the leadership of the NLC in the state to
allow for the continuation of the existing industrial peace and harmony
while the governor is given more time to sort out the payment of the two
or three-month salary arrears. We are aware that political office
holders and appointees are also affected, but in no time, the problem
would be resolved once and for all.”
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