Osun Workers Protest Non-payment of Salaries
Govt appeals for understanding
Civil Servants in Osun State yesterday staged a protest over delay in the payment of their five months salaries and allowances.
But in swift reaction, the state government said the salaries issues in the state cannot be unconnected from the revenue crisis hitting the country.
The protest might not be unconnected with remarks made by President Goodluck Jonathan when he visited the state traditional rulers asking the workers to demand their salaries from the state government, as he reiterated that the federal government was paying as at when due.
The workers staged the protest round major streets of Osogbo, the state capital, demanding immediate payment of their salaries and allowances by the state government as they insisted that their colleagues were languishing over the non payment of five months salaries.
They blocked the popular Orita-Olaiya junction preventing motorists from moving freely. Armed with various placards with various inscriptions, the workers were seen chanting various anti-government songs to express their dissatisfaction over the delay in the payment of salaries.
The workers, led by Akinyemi Olatunji, noted that government had also failed to pay their contributions to the pension scheme.
According to him, “Officers who have been due for promotion since 2013 were not given their promotions, while our leave allowances from 2013 till today have not been paid.”
He stressed further that: “If I want to retire today, I cannot receive anything as pension.”
Olatunji who also flayed the government for delaying pension, added that: “Even those who were forced to retire since 2012, who were not ripe for retirement, did so because of the new pension law.”
He opined that the government also refused to pay their entitlements running into six months.
“It is very sad that 98 of them have died and that has been the agony we are passing through under this regime,” he lamented.
Olatunji however urged the government to address the issue, saying: “Non of our demands has been implemented despite all meetings and negotiations.”
However, a statement issued and signed by the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s aide denied the allegation that the state owed five months salaries.
He noted that the state government was owing only three months and pleaded with the workers to show understanding over the matter.
According to the statement, “It has come to our knowledge that today, some workers under the aegis of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) came together to protest against salaries that have not been paid.
“While we recognise the right of the workers to seek the payment which is legitimately theirs, we wish to repeat for the umpteenth time that the unfortunate owing of salaries running to about three months cannot be divorced from the crushing revenue crisis that has hit the country.
“What is required at this stage is for everybody to properly understand the genesis of this whole saga which will be helpful rather than being viewed as a deliberate act on the part of the government.
“A government that ensured prompt payment of salaries on or before 26th of every month since inception; a government that introduced 13th month salary and a government that had commenced augmentation of salaries with its hard earned savings to prevent it’s workers from tasting the bitter pill of revenue crisis cannot suddenly wake up to deny workers their legitimate earnings.
“We are aware that President Jonathan made some statements during his visit to the state at the weekend where he was reported to have asked the people to demand their salaries saying his government pays states at when due and that some states have borrowed money beyond their capacities.
“The question the president must be asked is: how do loans obtained by states for obvious development purposes and to bring better life to the people translate to revenue deductions across Nigeria to the extent that the whole country is facing this kind of heat? It is on record that the Director General of the Debt Management Office under the supervision of President Jonathan came to the state last year and declared publicly that the state debts are within the capacity of the state.”“Please, recall that Aregbesola had seen this coming a long time and as far back as July 2013, he had told Nigerians to call the federal government to account if the country would not be plunged into economic crisis.”
“However, as a responsible and responsive government, we can only appeal to our workers in the state and those connected with them for understanding. What this time calls for is sober reflection on the part of all parties, as all hands must be on deck to ensure that we all navigate this stormy weather and get rid of those who are bent on holding the people down.”