GOVERNOR Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Friday released N2 billion to offset part of the global cooperative deductions from the state’s workers, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The governor also promised to settle the outstanding deductions by releasing one billion naira quarterly until all deductions are defrayed. The payment, which will cover four months, is meant to address the plight of the workers and pensioners.
Comrade Akeem Lasisi, the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) disclosed this at a news conference after a meeting between the leaders of organised labour and pensioners’ unions and the governor.
Comrade Lasisi said the governor also released another N1 billion for gratuities of state and local government pensioners.
“The new gratuity is a 100 per cent increment from the earlier quarterly payment of N500 million he had earlier commenced in 2020. We had a fruitful meeting with the governor today. This is a follow-up to other meetings we had before.
“In the meeting, we told the governor that workers are tensed up and restless due to the non-payment of their deductions and he agreed to do something about it. I am glad to inform you that he has directed the immediate release of N1 billion for the payment of gratuities and that N1 billion will be released on a quarterly basis for the pensioners.
“As at today, four months of global deductions has been paid and the governor also promised to do this on quarterly basis,” Comrade Lasisi said adding that the governor has promised that promotion for 2018 would be fully implemented in the New Year while promotion entitlements for 2019 would commence by March 2022.
According to him, Governor Abiodun told the workers to expect to enjoy their promotion entitlements for 2020 “from May or June next year”.
Also speaking, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Waidi Oloyede, appreciated the state government for the gesture.
He praised the governor for accepting to look into the monthly increment, saying that some pensioners collected as low as N5,000 monthly as pension.
Comrade Isa Olude, the state Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSON) and Chairman Joint Negotiations Committee called for commitment of the parties involved to build trust and avoid misunderstandings.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Waheed Odusile, reiterated government’s commitment to the welfare of both workers and pensioners.
