By Daud Olatunji

OSOGBO—CIVIL  servants in Osun State, yesterday, embarked on a three-day warning strike as directed by the leadership of the  labour  unions in the state

When our correspondent visited the government secretariat, Abere, yesterday, there was total compliance as the main entrance gate of the secretariat was under lock and key.

The leadership of the   Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Osun State, had  on Tuesday  ordered all workers in the state civil service to embark on a 3-day warning strike effectively from  Wednesday  to  Friday this week  following the refusal of the state government to offset workers outstanding salaries arrears and other entitlements.

The leadership of the Congress directed all workers in the state to act accordingly to press home their demands which have been hanging for a long period of time in the hand of the state government.

In the communiqué by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, Comrade Bayo Adejumo, Chairman, JPSNC, Comrade R.A Adeyemi; NLC Secretary, Comrade Adebowale Adekola, Chairman, TUC, Comrade Akin Olatunbosun, Secretary TUC and others, they threatened to embark on an indefinite action if, at the end of the warning strike, the government fail to meet their demands.

They, however, listed their demands to be payment of 34 months salary arrears of 50% for officers on GL.08 and above which is an equivalent of seventeen months full salary, payment of 34 months pension arrears of retired workers in the state, remittances of 34 months contributory pension arrears.

The leadership of the  labour  unions commended the civil servants in the state for the total compliance and appealed to them to make it total in the remaining two days.

Pay backlog of allowances — PDP 

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State has called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to order the immediate payment of backlog of workers salaries and allowances which has necessitated the ongoing total strike in the State.

In a statement by its chairman, Mr. Soji Adagunodo said: “To make matters worse, Ogbeni Aregbesola continues to make senior citizens, who are pensioners, an object of ridicule in the society by refusing to pay their meager pensions and gratuities.

“Rather than attend to the germane issues raised by the  labour  unions while the ultimatum lasted, Ogbeni Aregbesola was busy with desperate political campaigns to install his surrogate as the next governor.

“We condemn this gross insensitivity and call on the Governor to immediately address their demands   in order to save millions of innocent citizens from the consequences of a prolonged strike”

We’re talking to the unions — Osun Govt

Reacting to the strike, the Osun State appealed to the workers to reconsider their stand and resume their duties immediately promising that the government “is striving to meet their demands.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, said: “We are talking to the leadership of the unions to resolve the issue amicably.”