The Organised labour in Nigeria has vowed not to suspend the ongoing industrial action, rejecting the latest offer from Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Arising an emergency meeting held on Friday, 18th July, 2025, the Organised labour stated that its strike action continues, in as much as Ogun state government failed to accede to its demands.
At its emergency meeting, the Organised labour said the “Council-in-session therefore resolved that its initial take of the Congress as contained in its letter of Monday, 14th July, 2025 stands”.
The meeting, which lasted for almost 7-hours discussed extensively on each of the items outlined, with an in-depth evaluation of the offer(s) of the Ogun State Government.
The Labour leaders noted that the meeting between the union and the state government, chaired by Governor Abiodun failed to address the major resolutions raised by the workers.
A communique issued by the organized labour ; the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress(TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) expressed discontent of how Ogun state government handled the Workers’ demands .
The labour leaders described as “unacceptable“ Ogun state government’s stance, especially the Contributory Pension Scheme, “saying it showed lack of commitment to the welfare and future security of workers.
“The thrust of our displeasure squarely centre’s on the Contributory Pension Scheme. The prayer of the entirety of the State and Local Governments Civil/Public Servants is the outright cancellation of the dysfunctional Contributory Pension Scheme, or its commencement date to 2042 as recommended by the Adekunle Hassan-led Committee”, the Organised Labour lamented.
The Unions announced that their earlier call for an indefinite strike action issued in their letter dated Monday July, 14th , 2025 remains unchanged, until specific agreements are reached.
“After thorough deliberation, the Council resolved that the Status quo remains. The strike continues “.
It will be recalled that the workers had premised their anger against Ogun state government on the ground of its failure to remit the Contributory Pension Scheme, (CPS); non implementation of the new minimum wage (2024), vis a vis its Consequential Adjustments; non-payment of arrears of leave allowance; non-implementation of the Consequential Adjustments on Pension, as well as the non-release of promotion of staff for year 2023 and 2024.
Earlier, the state Governor Dapo Abiodun had on Friday promised that his administration would commence full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme for the state workers from the end of July 2025.
Governor Abiodun said the Pension Scheme and other sundry matters that led to the ongoing strike action by the state workforce would receive immediate payment, particularly for workers, who retired from July 2, 2025, through the scheme.
The governor indicated that a 10-year payment plan would commence from 2025 to 2030 under the first phase, while the second phase, which would commence 2026, would be from 2030 to 2035.
With that arrangement, Governor Abiodun also assured that payment would be made for the remaining two years of his tenure, while eight years of payment would be for his successors.
“What is key is that we have decided that in phase one, we will pay outstanding contributions for retirees who have retired from July 2, 2025, to July 2030. We will make that immediate payment,” the Governor stated.
“Next year, we will make the second payment, which will be phase 2, for those who will be retiring from July 2, 2030, to July 1, 2035,” he said.
“We will be making immediate payments for those who will be retiring beyond my tenure in 2027 and beyond the tenure of my successor as well; that is 10 years.
“There will be no gratuity scheme as this will be discontinued from July 2, 2025. All Consolidated Salaries will revert back to the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“A lot of work has gone into this. In the past, we found that those who have been managing our pensions were not actually the right fit for purpose; they were not qualified, and that has made things slower than they should have been,” Governor Abiodun said.
“Anyone retiring will receive their benefits, and we will provide PENCOM with the resources to ensure that they meet the obligations of those who retire, and that will be done promptly.
“We will pass the appropriate laws to back this decision,” the Governor pointed out.
Governor Abiodun appreciated the Organised Labour for its continued support given to his administration since 2019, which led to the socio-economic development, currently witnessed in Ogun state.
He urged Labour Unions to always find peaceful ways to engage government on issues affecting workers’ welfare rather than embarking on industrial disputes.
Olusola Akintonde