The deadlock over the agitation for the implementation of the new minimum wage between Organised Labour and Ondo State Government ended yesterday as the workers agreed to the payment of N14,000.
The Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) agreed to the payment of N14,000 beginning from July 1.
The workers also initiated an agreement that the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage will not start, until an upward review of the revenue allocation formula acceptable to the state is released by the Federal Government.
JNC Chairman Solomon Adelegan signed the agreement on behalf of Labour while the Head of Service, Ajose Kudehinbu signed for the government.
Adelegan, who read the agreement, said the workers were suspending the industrial action, following an understanding between the two sides that the state finances cannot accommodate the new minimum wage for now.
He said: “That after going through the facts and figures presented by the state, it was clear to the parties that the government cannot afford to pay the new national minimum wage of N18,000 for now.
“That pending a new revenue allocation formula acceptable to the state, Labour agreed with the proposal by the government to introduce salary relativity under which government will pay for now, a minimum salary of N14,000 per month to workers under the aegis of the JNC in the public service.
“Based on the agreement that the state will start the implementation of the salary relativity, the strike embarked upon by workers in Ondo State public service is hereby suspended and our workers are also directed to report at their duty posts immediately.”
Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, who led the government delegation to the negotiation, praised the workers for their maturity, understanding.
Also, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Ranti Akerele, who was on the state delegation team, said the state wished that it could give more to Labour because “nothing is too much to give to the workers and they truly deserved it.
“They too know that the present administration is known by the electorate as a worker-friendly government which had taken workers welfare as a priority since it came on board.
He said: “We will continue to build on what we have started as government, what we have witnessed this morning was an evidence of sound relationship between us.
“Workers were agitating for their legitimate right, yet they showed indescribable understanding of the situation on ground, we are very proud of them for that.”-The nation
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