The All Progressives Congress has faulted the decision of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State chapter, to order workers to embark on an industrial action.

The Oyo state chapter of the APC accused the NLC of not following “due process or due consideration” before taking the decision.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Olawale Sadare, the APC expressed shock over the manner in which the state chapter of the NLC declared the industrial action, saying there was ongoing efforts by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to offset the salary arrears.

“We received the news of the strike as ordered by the state chapter of the NLC with shock in view of its timing and the fact that the governor was never comfortable owing staff their dues as demonstrated in greater part of his first term in office. The situation that led to the inability of the state government to continue with prompt payment of workers’ salaries was well known to the public as Sen. Abiola Ajimobi has also received kudos from many dissidents for managing the problem well enough to reduce its negative to its barest minimum,” Sadare said.

According to him, apart from the country’s oil-producing states and few others which draw high internally generated revenues, Oyo is ranked first among states of the federation that pay staff salaries and allowances promptly.

He also claimed that the state governor held the record of being the best in terms of fair treatment of workers despite the fact that his government constantly faced the challenges of insufficient funds.

The statement said in part, “However, we would like to remind the public that Governor Ajimobi had demonstrated his empathy over the issue of salary arrears when he discouraged his supporters from staging or organising any victory party on his behalf following his re-election on April 11, 2015. It is on this premise that the governor has also opted for a low-key inauguration ceremony this Friday.

“By and large, our appeal goes to the leadership of the NLC in the state to allow for the continuation of the existing industrial peace and harmony while the governor is given more time to sort out the payment of the two or three-month salary arrears. We are aware that political office holders and appointees are also affected, but in no time, the problem would be resolved once and for all.”