Written by Sam Nwaoko, Ado-Ekiti
Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Workers in Ekiti State have demanded immediate negotiation with the state government over the payment of the new minimum wage.



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This is coming following what the leadership of their unions in the state described as "the restiveness being displayed by workers in Ekiti State."

The Joint Nego-tiating Committee (JNC) of the civil servants has told Governor Kayode Fayemi to set up machinery for immediate negotiation on the matter, saying the workers in the state had "become nervous" over what seemed to be a stalemate between the labour unions and the state government on the matter.

Secretary of JNC in the state, Comrade Olugbenga Sobande, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, said it would be difficult for leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) "to control their members when they lose faith in the government over the implementation of the minimum wage in the state."

Sobande, however, said Governor Fayemi had done well by the earlier commencement of negotiation with the workers over the new wage, and urged him to reopen negotiation soonest to sustain the present industrial peace and harmony in the state.

The Ekiti State government had commenced negotiation with workers on July on 28 but suspended the parley indefinitely before any agreement could be reached.

The unions said in the statement: "The organ-ised labour under the aegis of NLC, TUC, JNC wishes to appreciate Governor Kayode Fayemi for the commencement of negotiation for the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act of N18,000 on Thursday, July 28, 2011.

"The negotiating meeting was adjourned and to be continued the following day, but unfortunately, the Office of Establishment and Training told us that it has been postponed indefinitely on a flimsy excuse."

"In view of this, the entire workers in the Ekiti State public service are restive and if negotiation is delayed, the NLC, TUC

and JNC may find it difficult to control their followers.

"Therefore, to sustain the present industrial peace in the State, we demand immediate resumption of suspended negotia­ tion."http://odili.net/news/source/2011/aug/9/608.html

so will the money be coming out of their papa's pockets? Just asking.

Why not ask Oni where the state's money went?

Or else what? Haba!