Salary Arrears: Osun Tertiary Institutions Workers Give Oyetola 14-Days Ultimatum

 

Ismaeel Uthman, Kazeem Badmus

WORKERS in the State of Osun owned tertiary institutions have given Governor Adegboyega Oyetola a 14-day ultimatum to pay the arrears of modulated salary owed by the state government. 

The workers, under the aegis of Unions of Osun State-owned Tertiary Institutions, threatened to embark on an indefinite strike action if the government failed to address their demands at the expiration of the ultimatum on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

In a letter obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the workers said the government is owing them 30 months modulated salary arrears. 

The letter was jointly signed by the Chairmen and Secretaries of academic and non-academic staff unions of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ila and Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. 

According to the workers, the state government was yet to implement the minimum wage for the workers of the tertiary institutions, saying they were being taken for granted.

The letter reads in part: “The council seriously frowned at the way and manner the government is treating our issues despite the unusual cooperation and understanding we had with the government.

“The 30 months arrears of modulated salary which Oyetola promised to pay since is still being awaited, despite having spent more than three years in office.

“The council noticed with dismay that the Bureau of Pension Service is insisting that 35 years of service is still being used for our retiring members despite the existing law duly enacted by the State of Osun House of Assembly and assented to by the then Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

“Also, the council frowned at non-payment of deduction arrears for four months of May and June 2019, February and April 2020 which are still outstanding. The council demands the release of these deductions without further delay.

“The union is seriously dissatisfied that the 2019, 2020 and 2021 promotion exercise are still being delayed despite the fact that a circular for their commencement had been issued by the State Government. The union demands for immediate commencement and completion of 2019, 2020 and 2021 promotion exercises without further delay.

“It is very unfortunate that the issue of contributory pension scheme has not been resolved despite the continued agitation and recommendations from various unions on the matter.

“It is very painful that the last recruitment done in the state owned tertiary institutions was in 2008 and most of our institutions are seriously under-staffed because there are no replacement for the retirees, those who died in active service and those who transferred their services.”

Pay Our Corporative Deductions, Osun Workers Tells Gov.

Meanwhile the mainstream workers under the aegis of the State of Osun Joint Labour Movement have also written Oyetola, demanding payment of their corporative deductions and outstanding arrears of salary and pensions.

In the letter, dated February 7, 2022, co-signed by Joint Negotiating Council Chairman, Bayo Adejumo; Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Jacob Adekomi; and the Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Adekola Adebowale; and addressed to the governor, the labour movement demanded payment of four months cooperative deductions which form part of monthly salaries of some categories of workers for the month of June 2019, April, May and June 2020.

The demands also include giving financial effect to workers promotions starting from November 1, 2021, and implementation of nominal promotions and conversion.

The letter reads in part: “The movement note with concern the non-payment of cooperative deductions of monthly salaries which form part of monthly salaries of the affected workers for the month of June 2019, April, May and June 2020.

“The immediate payment of the deductions shall be appreciated. It is worthy of note that the government, through the attached circular, agreed to implement nominal promotion for “2019 and 2020” as contained in paragraph 2 same, yet up till now, the issue has not seen the light of the day.

“In view of which the joint Labour Movement hereby call for ‘immediate release’ of circular for the implementation of nominal promotions and conversions spanning 2019 – 2021.

“Workers and pensioners in the state have been noted by the Joint Labour movement to be extraordinarily resilient, having endured the non-payment of outstanding arrears of salaries and pensions which this government has agreed to commence the payment with effect from 1st November 2021.”