Speaker appeals to labour unions to shelve proposed strike

Mr Suraj Adekunbi, the Speaker, Ogun House of Assembly, on Tuesday, appealed to the leadership of labour unions in the state to shelve their proposed strike action and explore dialogue.

Adekunbi, who spoke with newsmen in Abeokuta, said that dialogue was necessary in resolving the union’s industrial disagreement with the state government.

He said the government on its part was poised to settle the backlog of salaries owed its workers, adding that the current financial challenge was not peculiar to the state.

“The economic downturn is not limited to the state; every state is affected, at the last count, over 27 states were reportedly unable to pay workers salaries.

“The leadership of the labour unions should please show more understanding with the present administration in its quest to meet its financial commitment to workers,’’ he said.

The speaker added that the Gov. Ibikunle Amosun-led administration had prioritised the welfare of its workers and would continue to do all within available resources to fulfil its financial obligations to them.

He, however, commended the labour unions for their understanding in the face of the economic downturn bedevilling the nation, saying that public servants remain the engine room in the promotion of democratic dividends.

The state assembly, he said, would evolve necessary legislative framework to develop a more robust economic blueprint geared toward bringing governance closer to the grassroots.

NAN reports that workers in the state under the aegis of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike on Thursday over government’s failure to pay the 12 months deductions from their salaries.