The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights has said some disgruntled politicians in Osun State are using some labour leaders to fuel the industrial crisis in the state to frustrate the government.
The group said this in a statement signed by its Chairman, Akin Asifat and Publicity Secretary, Ismaeel Uthman, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The CDHR stated that labour leaders in the state were genuine with their agitation until recently when opposition politicians bought them over to destabilise the government.
The statement read partly, “We have it on good authority that some labour leaders have sold the workers to politicians who want the industrial action to continue indefinitely for the purpose of
frustrating Aregbesola’s achievement. There is more to the calling off of the strike and the later announced continuation of the strike.
“We felt concerned because the labour leaders have derailed from a genuine cause and there is need to caution them. They are now in pursuit of material things. Delay in salary payment is not peculiar to Osun State, but it is clear that the labour crisis in the state has been hijacked by politicians.
“Labour movement should be alive to its responsibility of enhancing the living standard and promoting good welfare package for workers; including make necessary decision on their behalf. Labour leaders should not be partisan, nor romance with politician.
Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, has appealed to workers in the state to disregard rumours being peddled about by some individuals that the government has decided to be paying them half salary.
Akere said this in a statement in Osogbo on Wednesday.
He said, “No time was such a decision taken and that people should not misinterpret the magnanimity and openness of the governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
He said, “While the share of Osun State from the NLNG money was N2.2billion, the CBN grant is yet to be received while the DMO rescheduling is for future allocation to the state. On receipt of the
N2.2billion NLNG lifeline, the governor instructed that the sum of N100million be added to ensure that payment is done to all categories of workers irrespective of their take home pay.
“While the lower ranked staff on levels 01-07 and pensioners earning between N5000 and N20,000 were accommodated in full, the outstanding was shared to all other categories of workers to ensure that nobody embarked on the Eid el Fitr holiday without being paid anything.
“It was this move that was mischievously interpreted by some to mean the reduction of workers salary by half when such rumour mongers refused to point out that if there was ever any move of such, the lower ranked workers that were fully accommodated will also be affected.”
