Ekiti workers suspend 4-week-old strike

Public servants in Ekiti state suspended their four-week old strike on Friday after signing an agreement with the state government.

At the end of a prolonged meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state government and the central labour unions agreed to a seven-point deal before the industrial action was suspended.

The resolutions agreed were the immediate payment of January salary, giving of obligations to public servants, payment of September 2014 salary of primary school teachers as well as leave bonus of local government employees in the nearest possible time.

The workers also gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to conclude its request with commercial banks to restructure personal loans granted public servants with a view to giving them relief from repayment.

The payment of February salary as soon as budget support fund is available; and the making of N10 million available monthly to gradually defray outstanding gratuities, release of the 2015 staff verification and making monthly provision for capacity building of public servants.

While Modupe Alade, secretary to the government; Gbenga Faseluka, head of service; Dipo Anisulowo, chief of staff represented the government, Odunayo Adesoye, the state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC); Ade Adesanmi, state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Oladipo Johnson, chairman of the joint negotiating council, represented the government.

Faseluka, expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by the labour leaders and the commitment of Ayo Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

He said the state’s resources and statutory allocations were no longer adequate to pay salaries and there was need to merge two allocations to pay a month’s salary.

“When you have such a situation on hand, it is obvious that when you get to 12 months, there would be a gap of six months,” he said.

“The arrangement started and we were combining two allocations to pay a month’s salary, the state government appreciates the workers and value their support and cooperation.”

Johnson said the suspension of the strike would allow for ‎further consultations and thanked workers for their support during the strike.