The struggle by Osun civil servants to ensure the payment of their outstanding six months salaries took a new dimension on Tuesday, as the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Rauf Aregebsola’s government to pay the salaries or risk full blown strike action.
The development followed a meeting between the labour and representatives of the government, which failed to reach acceptable agreement over the payment of salaries.
Describing the meeting as inconclusive and fruitless in addressing the contentious issues, a credible source from the labour circle informed the Nigerian Tribune that if the state government failed to meet their demands, workers in the state would embark on industrial action.
The state leadership of the NLC, TUC and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) at a meeting yesterday, reviewed their last Monday meeting with the representatives of the state government and gave 14-day ultimatum, within which the government should pay their salaries.
According to the position of the labour, which was contained in Bulletin No.7-2015 titled, “irregular payment of salaries and allowances and other welfare of Osun State workers; workers be prepared,” the NLC and TUC insisted that payment of the salaries within the stipulated period remained the only antidote to avoid strike action. (Tribune).