The Oyo state Labour Movement has expressed its disappointment and displeasure over the reaction of the assistant adviser on labour matters to the governor, Bayo Titilola-Sodo recently on a media station maintaining that the governor has no deduction incurring the state workers.
The Unions insist the statement by the government ‘s representative lacks the truth, adding that such is beginning to damage the relationship between the Oyo State government and the Labour Movement.
The reaction is contained in a statement jointly signed and released by NLC and TUC chairmen on Thursday made available to newsmen.
The Labour movement maintained that Titilola- Sodo’s statement and personality during a media interview showed lack of empathy for the hardship reality in the state and as well faced by the workers whose salaries remain adversely at stake.
Meanwhile, the labour leadership called on the state governor, Seyi Makinde to address urgently the Unions and take a necessary corrective measures to rebuild trust and oil better relationship with the Labour force.
In his reaction, Special Assistant on Labour Matters to the state governor, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo while addressing newsmen said the government is in good relationship with state workforce, adding four out of pending salary deductions have been paid.
Comrade Titilola-Sodo noted he was unaware of the demands of the labour union, saying ” We have no arrears of salaries with anyone in the state. We are up to date, July salary has been paid since last week”
“There was a time we were owing them seven months salary deductions and four has been paid last week, so I wonder why anybody will now go on the street for something that you have already received?”
” When we are talking of review of pension. This government met several arrears of entitlement on ground which we have all cleared. Some people are claiming that someone reviewed pension for them sometime, that person never paid. It is this government that came in that started paying the review for them and the government is not ready to do a review that it will not be able to meet”
” There was a negotiation on minimum wage in 2020 and concluded in February and all arrears were offset. Since that time this government has never failed payment on every 25th of the month even when everyone was at home due to Covid-19,then we have government that rescinded and retracted on the agreement they had with the labour in view of Covid-19 challenges, this government did not do that”, he said.
Recall, the Unions during its protest train on Wednesday said out that intermediary creation in-between the members and the government has brewed miscommunication and accountability while only the governor’s public workers’ address would vanish its protest at the frontage of the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
