Striking workers in Ondo State have been admonished to go back to work in the interest of people of the state, especially dying patients in health facilities.
The lawmakers made the appeal, on Wednesday, during a meeting with leaders of the organised labour held inside the parliamentary building.
The the meeting was to allow fresh negotiation between the striking workers and the state government and a call-off of the strike.
The striking workers are demanding the payment of their outstanding salaries for the past162 days.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, said that the government was making frantic effort to ensure that the workers went back to their duty post.
Akindele, who stated that the House was aware of the travails of the striking workers, over the non-payment of their salaries, said that members of the parliament were ready to intervene.
She added that the lawmakers of the Assembly would come out with a resolution over the striking issue, which had paralysed activities in the state.
“It was the initiative of the House to intervene and find lasting solution to the feud between the workers and the state government.
She also promised to table all the issues raised by the leaders of the organised labour before the executive arms of government with the hope that the strike would soon be called off.
The State Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, expressed displeasure at the continuous delay of in the payment of the workers’salary.
According to Adeleye, the strike was the only tool that the workers could use to get the attention of the state government towards their plight.
He added that the non-payment of the salaries had rendered the state redundant, because it is a civil service state.
He also urged the state government, under Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to put a stop to all capital projects, in order to effect the outstanding salaries of the striking workers.
“No matter the capital projects, they will not put food on tables of workers and what we are asking for is reward for service rendered.
“I must inform you that there is a high level of hunger in our society and if we are not careful, there may be civil uprising which will not be palatable”.
The State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Sola Ekundayo, decried the situation, which had lasted for 15 days, noting that it was the longest in the history of the state.
“There is a level of insanity already in us, because, today makes it 15 days of this strike, which is the longest in the state.
“We demand at least payment of three months’ salaries or else, we may go haywire,” Ekundayo stated.
The State Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Bosede Daramola, said it was disheartening that the House could not respond to series of letters written to it.
Daramola noted that some states were still paying their workers despite economic challenges.
She added that Ondo State must not be an exception.
According to her, 23 workers and12 pensioners had lost their lives in recent time.
Source: DAILYTIMES ng
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