Unpaid Salaries: Oyo Workers Commence Strike TodayIn accordance with the
directive of the national leadershipof the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),
workers in Oyo State will today  commenceindefinite strike over non-
payment of three month salaries, allowances andfive months pension
arrears. The NLC leadership inthe state had on Monday at a special
congress in Ibadan directed workers tostay of duty with effect from today.
Addressing newsmen after the congress, the state NLC chairman, Mr.Waheed
Oloje,said in as much as the directive was from the union's national
headquarters, "theposition of the law establishing the NLC ensures that we
comply with thedirective of our national leadership".
Olojede revealed that the leadership of the state NLC, up till last
Fridayengaged in negotiation with the state government over how workers'
accumulatedsalary and the arrears of pension would be defrayed, pointing
out thatimmediately a memorandum of understanding on the payment of the
money issigned, the NLC national leadership would be appealed to, to allow
the stateNLC call off the strike.
"Until the Memorandum of understanding acceptable to both the state NLCand
government is signed, and delivered, the strike will go on. We appeal
toour colleagues to remain calm and be peaceful in their conduct while
they awaitfurther directive from our national leadership which will be
passed to them themoment we receive such directive.
"We urge all workers in the employ of the state to continue to stay athome
until we receive a directive from our national leadership to call off
thestrike after the MOU that is mutually acceptable to both the government
and usis duly signed and sealed.
"We hope the state government will show an understanding as we continue
tonegotiate over the unpaid salaries for the workers and the five months
pension arrears,"he said.