Warning Strike: Osun Govt Offices Shut

By Israel Afolabi

Workers in the state of Osun complied with the stay at home directive of Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] in the state as a means of pressing home their demand for the payment of outstanding salary arrears’ owed them by the State Government.

The NLC had on Tuesday declared a three days warning strike expected to end today.

The labour unions were demanding for the payment of the remaining part of their Modulated Salary arrears among other demands.

Findings revealed that most of the government parastatals offices in Osogbo were under lock and key while some workers were seen hanging around the premises awaiting any contrary directives.

However, at the State of Assembly complex, staff members were not in their offices but security operatives were found around the premises, while cleaners and guards reported at their usual work stations.

Meanwhile, a worker who showed up in the office, Mr. Afolabi Adeleke revealed to our reporter that he was around to spy on what is going on and to know how staff complied with the strike directives.

In the same vein, at the State Government Secretariat Abere workers were not on duty, but few were seen in front of their offices in groups discussing with each others.

A worker who pleaded anonymity said, though the government has done its best to ensure that workers are able to go home with something every month through modulated salary as a result of the economic situation, but appealed to government to quickly find lasting solution to the unpaid arrears so that they can resume work in earnest.

Another civil servant living around the Secretariat, Mr. Hameed Oloyede asked government to do justice to workers over unpaid Arrears of one and half years.

Meanwhile, at the State High Court in Osogbo, it was under lock and key, as cases slated for the day were put on hold.

Some of the people who had cases in court were disappointed that proceeding could not hold as a result of the warning strike.

Reacting to the strike, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa said the government is working towards resolving issues raised by the labour union with a view to have them return to work.