Ondo workers suspend 30-day-old strike, to be paid Mon

Civil servants in Ondo state have suspended the 30-day-old strike called by unions to protest non-payment of five months salaries.

Sunday Adeleye, state chairman joint negotiating council, said the month-long strike was suspended following a commitment by the government to start paying workers as from July 4.

The strike led to the closure of government offices, health facilities, primary and secondary schools in the state.

Adeleye said the government has committed to immediate payment of January salary.

He added that all local government staff and primary school teachers, including their pensioners, would be paid February 2016 salary in full.

“In addition to January, March 2016 salary will be paid to primary school teachers and local government staff on GL 01 to GL 10 because the available funds cannot pay all categories of workers in that sector,” he said.

“February 2016 salary will be paid to health workers in health management board, while the judiciary workers will be paid January and February salaries.

“February, March and April salaries will be paid to the staff of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).”

Adeleye said the agreement also stipulated that the state government would buy-back workers’ corporate loans, while a committee had been set up to that effect.

Kayode Akinmade, the commissioner for information, confirmed the agreement between both parties.

He said a committee had been set up by the state government to handle the details of the agreement.