In what could be described as I-don’t-care-
attitude, Oyo state governor Abiola Ajimobi has
said he is not deterred by the strike threat of the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), vowing that any
worker who goes on strike will not be paid.
He said ultimatum issued by Labour is not only
surprising but unnecessary and uncalled-for in the
prevailing circumstances. He urged the labour
leaders to negotiate with the government, vowing
that any worker who goes on strike without
following due process will not be paid.
The flamboyant governor equally said he is not
ready and will not review the 90 per cent income
dedicated for the payment of workers salary from
the Federation Account.
According to him, government cannot pay 62,000
workers with the money that ought to be used to
maintain over 10 million citizens.
“Modern day labour union and government
relationship has listed steps that must be taken.
Step one is if you have any concern about
anything, there is a joint negotiation committee
that is made up of government and workers, you
first go there to discuss with them.
“If after the discussion it does not work then you
can go to the next level where the head of service
and government will now appoint some people to
discuss. It is when negotiations have broken down
that labour can give notice of strike and not this
old time labour government relationship where
without discussing you will issue ultimatum to go
on strike.
“It is illegal because this is a government where
law must be followed and obeyed, not this culture
of impunity. It is wrong to give an ultimatum to go
on strike without reaching a consensus with the
government.
“We have an agreement, there was a time we use
to get close to N5 billion from the Federal
Government and our IGR was like N1 billion, now
everybody is aware of the situation, and now we
are having N2 billion plus from Federal
Governmen,” he was quoted by Nation newspaper.
Also, traditional rulers in the state have begged the
labour leaders not to go on strike.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu
Adetunji, said labour should be considerate and
embrace the government’s conditions while the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said: “The
government has tried his best allocating 90 per
cent of the federal allocation to pay the worker’s
salary. The labour leaders only need to be patient
and considerate.”
Recall that another APC governor, the embattled
Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai has gotten
into another trouble as organized labour in the
state are set to shut down all activities in the state
following his alleged anti-workers policies and
excesses.
https://www.naij.com/788493-shocking-apc-governor-vows-not-pay-workers-salary.html?source=index_main