As part of moves to forestall industrial crisis as workers in Oyo State had planned to commence strike today, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of N25, 000 for workers and N15, 000 for Pensioners as wage award for six months to cushion the effects of subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had approved N35,000 for federal workers for six months as palliative for the fuel price increase.
Gov. Makinde while addressing labour leaders at the gate of the Government Secretariat said that the payment for six month will be an additional N2.2billion to the wage bill of the state.
The Labour Leaders had on Sunday given the clue that the proposed strike might be cancelled as representatives of the government had shown concern for the workers, promising that Governor Makinde cares for their welfare. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins had said that he would address some workers and other union leaders Monday morning to tell them that the governor was willing to dance to their tune. A committee had been set up about two months ago to fashion out what could be done to alleviate the sufferings of the workers, but when the committee refused to give report after expected period, the Labour Leaders issued ultimatum to go on strike.
In attendance during the address were Comrade Kayode Martins of the NLC; Comrade Bosun Olabiyi Chairman of the TUC;, Comrade Olaonipekun Oluwaseun of the Joint Negotiation Council, (JNC) Public Sector; among other.
Other government functionaries including, Special Adviser (Labour Matters), Comrade Adebayo Titilola-Sodo, the Executive Assistant to the governor, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe, among others, also accompanied the governor during the address.
