Clear backlog of unpaid salaries at AAUA, RUGIPO, others —Labour begs Akeredolu

By: Ade Adeleke

……Seeks help for Nurse who lost sight at Govt’s Hospital.

Organized labour in Ondo state have called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to stop frivolous industrial unrest at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO and devise practical means of off setting backlog of unpaid salaries of workers at the tertiary institutions in the state.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC also sought the financial assistance of the state government for a Nurse, Joyce Adesanmi who went blind recently on duty at the State government’s General Hospital, Ile-Oluji.

The NLC state Chairman Sunday Adeleye-Oluwole made plea today while delivering his address at the 2021 workers’ day celebration held at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The event also has in attendance the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade; the APC state Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun represented by the Majority leader, Hon Ogunmolasuyi, the Chief Imam of Akureland, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Yayi-Akorede and the State Head of Service, Pastor Niran Adeyemo among other dignitaries.

In his speech, Adeleye-Oluwole appealed to governor Akeredolu who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Labour matters and Special duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye, to help the Nurse regains her sight.

The NLC Chairman said, “Of note Your Excellency, is the case of one Nurse Joyce Adesanmi who went blind on duty at the General Hospital, Ile-Oluji. We call for state help to restore her sight, please.

“However, there are still some challenges facing the health sector in the State especially the Neuro Psychiatry Hospital, Akure. The facility needs very urgent attention to prevent it from total collapse in order to further the management of mental health concerns of the people.

On Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, the labour leader said, “we pray Mr. Governor to look into issue of subvention with a view to reviewing the current arrangement of revenue generation in our tertiary institutions.

“The need to plug leakages cannot be over-emphasised. With this done, we are assured that more revenue would be available to our members in the Higher Institutions to settle issue of Gratuities and backlog of salary arrears.

“The litigation between Union and Management of RUGIPO must be looked into and the management should be mandated to obey court judgement and stop unnecessary dilly-dallying with frivolous appeals.”

The NLC chairman therefore lauded the state government for not only engaging more workers but approved the promotion of deserving officers while many states are seeing the minimum wage as a financial burden.

Adeleye said that ”Nigeria, l am afraid to say is sliding into a state of anarchy where some elements in the name of bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen daily kidnap, pick up and kill innocent citizens unchecked is nothing short of an anarchical situation.”

On the high rate of insecurity in the country, Adeleye-Oluwole and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Helen Odofin submitted that ”the traditional warfare method being used by our military is no longer fashionable and can never resolve the current spate of insecurity in the land.

Speaking at workers day celebration, Odofin said that ”the level of insecurity of lives and properties in the nation has gotten to a height that one continues to wonder if the country has not completely failed.

”The innocent blood being shed on a daily basis and the high rate of these who have been rendered homeless is worrisome.

”We call on the Federal government to intensify effort to stem the tide of insecurity by embracing advanced technologies in fighting insurgency.

”We hasten to suggest that the President of the nation should seek help from international communities without delay by way of seeking support mercenaries,” she said.

On agitation for secession, Odofin called on political leaders to rise up to the occasion and stop the country’s drift to break up.

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