Osun Workers Declare Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid 6 Months Salaries

SAN FRANCISCO, May 25, (THEWILL) –  Government employees in Osun State Monday declared an indefinite strike to force the state government to pay them salaries which have so far topped six months.

The workers' unions announced the development in Osogbo, the state capital, on Monday after a meeting following the expiration of the tw0-week deadline given to the state government to pay up.

Osun State under Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is broke and has been unable to meet up recurrent expenditure due to the dip in the state's monthly allocation following the crash of crude oil in the international markets.

Over a dozen states in Nigeria are facing similar circumstances.

The Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jacob Adekomi, who read a communiqué on behalf of all the workers' unions in the state, said the industrial action would start tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26.

“That an indefinite strike action be commenced by all the workers in the State of Osun as from Tuesday, May 26, 2015 due to the failure of the government to accede to our legitimate demands, as contained in our letter to the government dated May 12, 2015.

“The indefinite strike action will be total and by this billeting, workers are advised to stay at home while pressing home our demands. That no worker should resume work until announcement is made by the labour bodies to that effect,” the communiqué said.