The chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ogun State, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, has confirmed that the salaries of the civil servants are not paid regularly.

He made this known when reacting to a post titled ‘Osun, Lagos, Oyo State Civil Service Salary Structure and Allowance 2023′, a report he claimed contained other states unions’ requests for palliatives for their workforce.

According to a memo circulated among the Ogun civil servants earlier today and titled Removal Of Fuel Subsidy – Message Of Hope To Ogun State Workers, Comrade Lasisi attempted to ridicule the suggested palliative measures by the unions in Osun, Oyo and especially in Lagos.

He also attempted to debunk the accusations flying around the Nigerian media that the union leaders in Ogun State are in collusion with the governor to deprive workers of their entitlements.

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“We have read with amusement the various comments that trailed the suggested palliative measures to cushion the effects of the recent petroleum subsidy removal in Oyo State; we have also read the much-circulated post titled: ‘Osun, Lagos, Oyo State Civil Service Salary Structure and Allowance 2023’.

“While we are not reactionary to the letter sent to the government of Oyo State which is now the subject of comparison among workers in the State, it is proper to disseminate information and shed more light on the issue at hand especially as many are of the opinion that the Organised Labour in Ogun State are folding their arms while the workforce and the generality of the populace are suffering.

“Let me inform you that each of the states, including ‘Almighty’ Lagos State, has their challenges which time and space will not permit me to enumerate. Most of the posts and comments we read on social media were mere ‘bojuboju’ that was far from the truth,” he said.

Lasisi confirmed that Governor Abiodun invited members of TUC, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as earlier reported by Freelanews on June 6, 2023.

“Setting the record straight, the Governor of Ogun State, in a bid not to shy away from his constitutional responsibility, invited the leadership of the JNC and the two Labour Centres (TUC, NLC) to a crucial meeting exactly four days after the subsidy removal to rob minds so as to have a common front to cushion the effect of the removal before workers would start to agitate.

“At the meeting, both the Government and Labour Leaders demonstrated uncommon goodwill, commitment and a sense of belongings towards workers/residents of the state. His Excellency felt concerned about the well-being and welfare of the workers/pensioners and the multiplier effect on the citizens/residents of the state. He felt both the leaders and government should sit and come up with options that should be easy to implement. He expressed his commitment to the residents of the state by stating various ways to ameliorate the impact of the subsidy.

“The Governor analyzed critically the fact that both formal and informal economies could not joke with fuel, the sale of which was suddenly increased to #500/litre and has led to a hike in transportation fares, food prices and other essential services,” he said.

The TUC chairman revealed that the labour leaders suggested to the governor the alternative plans should be put in place, impact of the removal on vulnerable for low-income earners, elderly and unemployed, and the economic impact on workers in the state ‘because the cost of a commodity is directly tied to fuel price’.

“The Leadership informed the Government that subsidy is the soul of the poor and it is a global practice but it was a pity in Nigeria where it was backed by corruption and since the Federal Government could not remove the corruption, it was better we allowed the subsidy to go with a mind that the removal without an alternative plan in place would have severe consequences on the economy and the working class. Should Nigerians suffer because of the inability of the Fed. Govt. to curb corruption and smuggling or fight the criminals behind the corruption?” Comrade Lasisi stated.

The suggested palliatives of the Ogun State labour leaders included the need to reduce the working days of individual workers to three or four days per week such that the cost of going to and from the workplace would be reduced; the need for the government to increase transport and other allowances pending the outcome of the engagement between the Labour and Federal Govt.; the need for the State Government to critically look into the payment of outstanding deductions, leave allowances, 2021 and 2022 promotion financial benefits, gratuity and review minimum pension which in no small measure will provide relief to the workers; and the urgent need to review the subsidized transport system provided for government workers and make it available across the state.

However, these suggestions didn’t fly with the governor, who claimed that many of the options can not be implemented immediately.

“At the end of the meeting, His Excellency made us to realize that many of the options we suggested were long-term that could not be implemented immediately and set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor with a view to arriving at implementable options among the options suggested. He said the transport system for workers was not effective because of the high cost of diesel and that government was looking for ways to replace the buses that would make use of Compressed Natural Gas.

“The committee had met to look at the possible options, we were only awaiting the final decision of the government,” he assured the workers.

The labour leader further stated that another meeting has been scheduled for the week where issues concerning workers’ welfare will be discussed.

“We know the issue of intervention/palliative and the June staggered salary would be highlights of the discussion.

“Let me also inform you that the approval of Leave Allowances for the months of March and April and also 2021 and 2022 promotion exercises were products of the engagement,” he said.

According to a source, many workers in the state are yet to receive their salaries, while some salaries were staggered.

Comrade Lasisi, while seeking the understanding of the workers over the dehumanising conditions most of them are passing through and the adverse effects of staggered salaries, assured them that the matter would be resolved at the meeting with governor this week.

“Great Workers, we know the situation is gory and grimy coupled with the staggered salary. We understand workers could no longer sleep in their personal houses but in friends’ houses, places of work (schools, MDA’s out-stations, hospitals, local govt secretariat) because of the high cost of transportation. We received messages hourly to come and see where workers kept their heads and bathed early in the morning before work resumed because of the distance between their abode and places of work. We are aware of the staggered salary that made the last Eid-el-kabir festival to be unpalatable for many of our colleagues. Leadership was also affected but let us assure you that all hands would be on the deck this week at the meeting to ensure the matters are resolved.

“We agree with you that it would be tantamount to the diversion of workers’ rights to tie the reasons for our suffering to the removal of subsidy when there are no alternative plans to cushion the effects because workers dictate the development of a state/nation.

“We would continue to appeal to the government to think out of the box in fashioning out ways to escape the doom and enter into a boom that will benefit all. When workers are happy, we enjoy mental and physical health, we are happier and motivated to improve our skills, we will also assist the government to re-engineer the revenue generation process and block all leakages with open minds,” he said.

He, however, debunked the reports that the unions are either paying lip service or keeping mum while the state government deprives them of their rights.

“It is absurd to note that workers still have the notion that the leadership closes their eyes to our suffering when we have daily engagement with the government. People are fast at posting fake news on social media when in actual fact they have mischief at the back of their minds.

“Let us assure the general public that when our allowances are reviewed, the money flows again into circulation and eventually energizes the local economy.

“You have reposed so much confidence in the leadership and we will not disappoint you,” he submitted.

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Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.