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| Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose |
The Nigeria Labour Congress has called off its four-week-old strike in Ekiti State over payment of outstanding salaries.
The four-week-old strike embarked by civil servants in Ekiti State has been suspended. This was revealed on Friday after the striking workers signed an agreement with the state government. A copy of the agreement with the government on the issues was posted by the Ayodele Fayose's Special Assistant on Publication and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
At a ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the state government and the central labour unions agreed to a seven-point deal. 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.
The striking workers and government agreed 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.
Also, the government is to give priority to its 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.
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