The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on having direct negotiations with Governor Seyi Makinde on demands of the civil and public servants in the state to avert the impending strike.

While briefing journalists, NLC chairman in the state, Kayode Martins, said the congress would no long have conversations with any intermediary over the demands of workers and pensioners in the state.

Mr Martins called on all workers in the state not to resume at their various offices on Monday but to converge at the state government secretariat by 7:30 a.m. to force the governor to speak with them directly.

He said the union had written letters to the governor itemising their demands, claiming that the letters were not delivered to him.

“We insist on seeing the governor in order to speak with him directly without any intermediary. If he sees us, he will definitely address us.

“We have not had a roundtable discussion with the governor in the last four years.

“We have a series of demands like the deductions of salaries that have not been paid in the last six months and outstanding promotion, which those promoted are yet to receive their promotion letters,’’ he said.

This was part of the outcome of an emergency meeting that the congress had with workers in the state at its state secretariat on Thursday in Ibadan.

The workers’ unions, including NLC, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council, had, on Tuesday, issued a four-day ultimatum to the state government to address their demands.

The demands included: payment of salary deduction arrears and subsequent payment of full salary, palliatives for workers, upward review of pensions and payment of leave bonuses from 2021, among others.

Mr Martins listed other demands as payment of pension gratuities and arrears, review of pension payment, which was last reviewed in 2007 and the issue of palliatives.

He said the committee on palliatives set up by the governor after petrol subsidy removal eight weeks ago had yet to meet and that nothing had been done.

Mr Martins said workers, pensioners and citizens of the state were currently suffering due to the high cost of living, adding that going to work had become a serious challenge for the workers.

He said the outcome of the negotiation with the governor on Monday would determine the next line of action by the union.

The NLC chairman insisted that whatever might be happening at the national headquarters of the NLC had nothing to do with the congress’ issue with the state government.

Also speaking, the secretary of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in the state, Olusegun Abatan, said some pensioners were receiving as low as N500 monthly pension.

Mr Abatan said pension was last reviewed in the state 20 years ago, adding that pensioners faced many challenges due to fuel subsidy removal.

(NAN)