By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti – The Organised Labour in Ekiti State on Friday suspended their four-week-old industrial action following the signing of an agreement with the state government this came as another protest rocked Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, as many interest groups stormed the streets to condemn the alleged looting of the state treasury by Governor Ayo Fayose.
At a ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the state government and the central labour unions agreed to a seven-point deal.
Governor Ayodele Fayose, during the unscheduled visit to the construction site of ongoing ultra modern Oja Oba.
On the government side were the Secretary to the Government, Dr Mrs Modupe Alade, the Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka and the Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo.
On the side of the labour were the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Oladipo Johnson, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ade Adesanmi and State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Odunayo Adesoye.
Among the resolutions agreed on were that the state government should within seven days conclude its request with commercial banks to restructure personal loans granted public servants with a view to giving them relief from loan repayment; payment of January 2016 salary immediately and the payment of February salary as soon as Budget Support Fund is available.
Others were giving priority to government’s obligations to public servants, payment of September 2014 salary of primary school teachers as well as Leave Bonus of local government employees.
The others were making N10 million available monthly to gradually defray outstanding gratuities, release the report of the 2015 staff verification exercise and making month‎ly provision for capacity building of public servants.
Speaking on the development, the Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by the labour leaders and the commitment of Governor Ayodele Fayose to ensure industrial harmony in the state.
He said the gap in the payment of salaries arose following the understanding between labour and government last September that the state’s resources and statutory allocations were no longer adequate to pay salaries and there was need to merge two allocations to pay a month’s salary.
“When you have such a situation on hand, it is obvious that when you get to 12 months, there would be a gap of six months. The arrangement started and we were combining two allocations to pay a month salary. The state government appreciates the workers and value their support and cooperation,” he said.
The JNC Chairman, Comrade Oladipo Johnson, said the suspension of the strike would allow for ‎further consultations and expressed thanks to workers for their support during the strike.
Group demands Fayose’s resignation
In what appear to be a daily ritual in Ekiti State, another protest rocked Ado-Ekiti, the state capital yesterday as many interest groups storm the streets to condemned the alleged looting of the state treasury by Governor Ayo Fayose.
The protest which was organized by a non-governmental organization, Be The Change Organization (BCO) also saw labour unions, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), artisans, market women, youth organizations and student bodies participating.
Addressing the protesters, the state CNPP Publicity Secretary, Ayo Adelabu called on Governor Ayo Fayose to resign from office over his failure to live up to expectation, asking him to come out and defend himself in the N4.7 billion arms deal scandal.
The CNPP also challenged him to explain to Ekiti people how he had spent six months allocation without payment of workers which has grounded the workforce.
The CNPP warned Fayose to stop abusing Mr. President who has been enjoying the full support of the majority of Ekiti people.
“The CNPP strongly condemned Ekiti State legislators who have turned themselves to political slaves in the hand of Fayose. The governor should also come out and explain the N2.3 billion loan he took from bank.
“The CNPP advised Governor Fayose to immediately stop the flyover bridge project and caution his political thugs against the attack of innocent people in the state.”
Executive Director of BCO, Mrs. Omotunde Fajuyi, said Ekiti people are embarrassed by the latest revelation of Fayose’s link with N4.7 billion arms cash adding that all Nigerians must support any move to recover the peoples commonwealth from looters.
She said Ekiti people are people of honour and integrity but expressed dismay that Fayose’s conduct in power has brought shame and odium on all Ekitis both at home and abroad.
Mrs. Fajuyi said: “We support President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, we have come out to protest looting of our money, corruption in government and scandals digging this government in Ekiti.
“Workers are dying at home, we want Fayose to explain what he has done with allocations he had so far collected because he had received more than N50 billion as allocation since he came to power.
“Fayose claims to be a Christian, he must come out clean and give account to the people of Ekiti State and he must submit himself and all his aides and associates to anti-corruption agencies for investigation ”
A youth leader, Adeoye Aribasoye, challenged Fayose to explain what he did with ecological funds and N9.6 billion bailout funds he received from the Federal Government.
Aribasoye said: “We have a governor who is richer than the state, a governor who has over N4 billion in his account he is the only one who can exp,a in what he has done with all the funds he had received from federal authorities.
“He must explain the N2.4 billion ecological funds because we don’t know what has happened to the money, he must answer for the revelations of Ekitigate.
“Pupils and students of public schools have been out home for over four weeks due to the strike embarked upon by civil servants and teachers.”
Former Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kolawole Olaiya, urged the EFCC to probe the whereabouts of the N9.6 billion bailout money released for the payment of workers, pensioners and past political office holders.
He lamented the suffering of civil servants in the state who are owed six month arrears of salaries noting that this has crippled the economy of the state.
Olaiya said: “Corruption is responsible for the inability of Ekiti State government to pay workers’ salaries for six months. With the present revelation that several billions of Naira has been discovered in the sitting governor’s account, it is a confirmation that the governor is corrupt.
“Ekiti workers still believe that the N9.6 billion bailout is kept somewhere and we urge the EFCC to institute a probe into this fact so that workers can receive their six months salary arrears and secure their future.
“Government is created for welfare and security of the people and Governor Fayose has done nothing to improve the people and secure their today and their future. Enough of these lies, Ekitk people must be liberated.
Speaking on behalf of artisans, Idowu Ayegbe said: “We regret all the burden the governor has imposed on us in Ekiti in form of levies and taxes on our pupils. We are not happy with what the governor is doing including his attacks on the President.”
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fayose d old cat with 5 life...may the will of God be done in ur life, bt i hope ur hands are clean