The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Oyo State Chapter threatened the state government to pay workers' outstanding salaries or expect shut down of labour activities.
The Union issued a five-day ultimatum over the non-payment of seven months salaries and pensions to workers.
The TUC Caretaker Chairman, Mr Andrew Emelieze, disclosed this when he addressed newsmen in Ibadan on Monday, August 1.
Emelieze said that the union would embark on a mass action if government fails to address its demands.
He
said the five days ultimatum is an added opportunity for government to
the issues, adding that the initial 15-day ultimatum expired on August
1.
The TUC had on July 11 stormed the state
government secretariat to submit its demand to the government, issuing a
15-day ultimatum.
TUC's letter was received by the Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade, on behalf of the government.
Emelieze
said the state government did not consult with them while the ultimatum
lasted, inspite of their correspondence to them.
"We
are not part of the unholy agreement between the state chapter of
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the state government that suspended
the seven weeks strike on July 25," he said.
"We
hereby condemn the unholy alliance and resolution between them. We are
going to occupy the state secretariat if government fails to heed to our
demands.
"We will bring our mattresses and pillows to the secretariat, while some will go on hunger strike,’’ Emelieze said.
He faulted the planned restructuring of the workforce by the state government, describing it as a ploy to retrench some workers.
The
TUC chairman said that more than 30 per cent of the wage bill claimed
by the state government was used in paying political office holders.
He
also appealed to the Federal Government to cushion the economic
hardship experienced across the country, saying the cost of living in
the country is on the increase.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi,
had on July 30 in Ibadan, the state capital, told newsmen that there is
no truth in the news that the state government is planning to retrench
workers but to restructure.
Ajimobi said he will
restructure to make every worker in the service of the state functional
and productive, adding that they will all be engaged.
On
the outstanding salary, he said that the status of the state’s finance
was made clear to the labour unions before the resolution to suspend the
seven weeks strike.