Osun State workers embark on strike over modulated salary payment

The Osun State government explains on its website that “Modulated Salary structure refers to the payment of salaries on the basis of what (money) is available. Full salary to workers in Grade Levels (GL) 1-7 and at least half or more to those on levels from 8 and above.”

The workers, in their large numbers, were sighted early Wednesday morning at the entrance of the government secretariat, located at Abere, the Daily Post reports. All entrances to the States’s secretariat were also said to be locked.

An aggrieved staff reportedly told Daily Post that the modulated salary scheme has resulted in their salaries being deducted and that the workers are only fighting for their rights.

He says: “Our condition is critical and this should not be allowed to continue. We are out to compel the government to be sensitive for once, and give us what is due to us.

“We are surprised that despite getting three tranches of bailout funds, this government of Osun still continue to pay modulated salaries to us, this is insensitivity at the highest level.”

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State had on Friday, December 22 directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike starting from Wednesday, December 27, to press home their demands for full salary payment.

Meanwhile, the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had over the weekend in Osogbo appealed to the workers to be patient, saying ”the financial crisis that forced the state government to the payment of modulated salary to its workers would be over by the end of March, 2018?.