Peter Dada, Akure
The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, and workers in the state have finally resolved on the payment of the remaining 20 per cent of the outstanding September 2016 salary arrears from the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund.
The state government commenced the payment of 80 per cent of the outstanding September 2016 salary arrears to the workers on Friday but the organised labour unions in the state kicked against the development, saying they would not accept the arrears in bits.
But in a closed door meeting held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office in Akure on Monday, the two parties resolved the matter.
While the governor was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, the workers were represented by the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Negotiating Council.
Speaking after the meeting, the deputy governor commended the workers for showing understanding. He assured them that all the promises made by the present administration would be fulfilled.
He said, “Issues were raised and we are able to resolve all the pending issues. The main issue is the September 2016 salary which we paid from the Paris Club loan refund and we do promised that we will pay the balance of the money.
“As per promotion, the civil service is a well-regulated system and anybody that is due for promotion will be promoted as we are not going to deprive anybody of that legitimate right and our governor will not do that as he is always ready to do what is right.”
The state Chairman of the NLC, Mrs. Bose Daramola, told journalists after the meeting that the government had agreed to pay all the arrears before October.
“He (governor) has assured us that all other outstanding arrears between now and few months after the release of the October Paris Club loan refund will be paid and we are expecting that between now and October, government should be able to clear the arrears.
“Government again has shown understanding that the promotion of workers for this year will not elude them and before the end of this year those who are due for promotion will be promoted without any hesitation,” the NLC chairman stated.
She appealed to the workers to remain calm since the government had shown commitment towards the welfare of workers in the state.
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