EKITI – The Ekiti State organised labour, has given a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay all outstanding benefits to workers or face three days warning strike.
The union gave the ultimatum in a letter dated July 16, addressed to Fayemi and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.
The organised labour said the ultimatum commences from Monday, July 20 and lapses on August 3, within which the governor is expected to redeem his pledge or face mass action.
The letter was jointly signed by the Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Com. Kolapo Olatunde, his counterparts in the Trade Union Congress, Com. Sola Adigun and Joint Negotiating Council, Com. Kayode Fatomiluyi, as well as their Secretaries.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the labour demanded immediate payment of outstanding workers’ promotion arrears, deductions, salaries, allowances, bonuses and other benefits within the stipulated time, to avert industrial strife in Ekiti.
It regretted that they had written over five letters to the governor reminding him of the need to redeem his pledge, but without correspondence responses, which they branded as an act of “betrayal”.
“Arising from foregoing, we felt dazed and betrayed by the state government for not reciprocating our patriotic zeal and disposition to the state corporate governance by not acceding to any of workers’ demands since the beginning of the present administration which is now close to two years. This is painful.
“On the strength of the above, the state government is hereby called upon to implement all the above-listed items within the next fourteen days with effect from Monday, 20th July 2020 failure, workers shall embark on 3 days warning strike commencing in the mid-night of Monday, 3rd August 2020”.
Reeling out the grey areas that needed to be resolved to avert an impending strike, the organised labour said: “We considered it sacrilegious, the non-implementation of financial benefits arising from the letters of promotion given to all deserving workers from years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and advancement.
The labour said it was shocked by the planned deduction of 15 per-cent from gratuities and pensions payable to pensioners without due consultation, saying the unions will support any popular decision taken by the pensioners on the matter.
