From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun may have pardoned a section of its workforce that embarked on what it termed ‘illegal strike action’ in October 2016.
The followed up the pardon by approving the payment of the one month salary it has withheld to them.
It would be recalled that the state government had invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay ‘ principle before the workers embarked on the strike, and withheld their October 2016 salary.
Labour leaders and other stakeholders in the state have since been appealing to the government to pardon the affected workers by releasing their salary.
But in a release signed, on Thursday, by the Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Osinowo, said the state government decided to pardon the affected workers followed the intervention of traditional rulers and other stakeholders within and beyond.
“In the spirit of the Workers’ Day celebration, the Ogun State Government has pardoned a section of its workers, who embarked on illegal industrial action in October 2016, as the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has approved the payment of salaries of the affected workers.
“The government had earlier invoked the “ No Work No Pay ‘ principle before the workers embarked on the strike, however, its decision to pardon the affected workers followed the intervention of traditional rulers and other stakeholders within and beyond”, Osinowo stated.
The Commissioner, equally, indicated in the release that government had also paid the April, 2017 salaries for its entire workforce noting “the actions were further testimonies to the commitment of the Amosun-led administration to the overall welfare of the workers”.
“While wishing the workers happy Workers’ Day celebration, he enjoined them to reciprocate the gesture of government by re-dedicating themselves to duties and continue to contribute to the rebuilding mission, so as to further engender economic prosperity or the state”.