Aregbesola in fresh crisis as Osun workers reject half salaries

Fresh crisis appears brewing between labour unions and Osun State Government following the rejection of the 50 per cent of salaries paid by the government into workers’ accounts.

The workers had on Monday announced the suspension of the strike embarked upon since May 26 after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government.

But the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Mr. Jacob Adekomi, while addressing journalists on Tuesday, said they were rejecting half payment of their salaries.

He said, “We are rejecting the payment of half salaries because that was not what we agreed on. All affiliate unions of the labour will meet later today to deliberate on the issue. But those that have not been paid at all can remain at home.”

Also, some local government workers told our correspondent around 2pm on Tuesday that they were yet to receive alert from their banks.

But the All Progressives Congress in the state has appealed to workers to show understanding with the government saying the balance of their salaries would be paid very soon.

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who addressed journalists said the payment of 50 per cent of the salary was inadvertently done.

“The 50 percent was already programmed. That was done before the Memorandum of Understanding was signed with workers.

“Unfortunately it is a communication gap. There was no intention to pay the half salary and the payment will not stop at payment of 50 per cent. Government will pay all.

“We are appealing to the workers to show understanding with the government. Their salaries will be paid in full. It will be implemented soonest.”

The APC’s spokesperson had in a statement earlier issued, rallied workers support for the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, saying the workers should continue to support the governor in his efforts to transform the state.

He explained that the nonpayment of the salary was caused by corruption in the oil sector during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The statement partly read, “It was therefore, totally misplaced anger that was directed at Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the crisis. Those who sponsored and propagated the misplaced anger did so out of envy that Aregbesola was raising Osun above their ignoble pedestal of impoverished ideas,” the party declared.

“Now that it is open secret that PDP government led by Goodluck Jonathan was the thief that stole the nation broke, it calls for greater understanding from both labour union and the workers to help the state address the aftermath of this PDP crime against our country.”

Aregbesola in fresh crisis as Osun workers reject half salaries