Oyo workers defy strike call, report for work

THE strike called by the caretaker committee of the Labour union in Oyo State to protest the new wage table released by the state government suffered a setback yesterday as civil servants defied the order and resumed work.

The workers had last Friday sacked the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state accusing them of compromise.

They had subsequently put in place a caretaker committee to champion their cause and protect their interest before the state government.

The committee led by Mr. Bayo Akande had directed the workers to begin an indefinite strike from Monday until the state government adjusted the wage table to favour all categories of workers and not those on levels 01 to 04 as currently done.

But the Ajimobi-led administration has been faulted for allegedly attempting to divide the Labour movement in the state “instead of alleviating workers’ plight.”

The PDP Synergy League, in a statement by its Spokesman, Dotun Oyelade, said: “It is regrettable and irresponsible of the Oyo State administration to refuse to implement the agreement on payment of minimum wage in spite of the moratorium given by the NLC.”

However, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state has called on the Oyo workers not to allow “frustrated politicians” to mislead them against the state government.

But the strike was not totally successful as workers, mostly civil servants reported for work at the secretariat on Monday and yesterday while teachers and local council workers stayed away           

However, some of the teachers were forced out by the caretaker committee members who went round the schools to ensure compliance with the strike order. Pupils were also turned back home.

They later converged on the NLC secretariat where they sang abusive songs against the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

Akande, who spoke with reporters at the NLC secretariat after the mobilisation trip, blamed the seeming break in the rank and file of the workers on the state government pronouncement that the strike was illegal, stressing that those around were the ones that could dare the government.

He maintained that there was no going back on the strike declared by the workers until the government comes up with an acceptable wage table.

Meanwhile, the state government has read the riot act to members of the caretaker committee put in place by the workers following the sack of the union leadership     

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the government said it would not “hesitate to apply the full weight of the law” on the affected committee members for allegedly threatening the peace of the state         

While describing the group as “illegal and unknown” to the state and the law, Adedayo disclosed that security agencies had been put on the alert “to deal decisively with any individual or group working for the opposition to disrupt the peace of the state.”

He explained that government had been discussing with the leadership of the union, saying that they had shown understanding with the government on the financial position of the state.

In a statement by the state’s ACN Publicity Secretary, Dauda Kolawole, the party described as “embarrassing and condemnable” unilateral strike action by a section of the state workforce            

Adedayo disclosed that, “the current salary table is gulping 92 per cent of the total income of the state, while the internally generated revenue only covers 25 per cent of the total wage bill.

“From this, it is only disgruntled elements that could have done contrary to what the union leaders have done.”