Civil servants in Ondo State have suspended their 30-day-old strike called by the unions to protest non-payment of five months salaries.
The strike was suspended on Thursday evening after a seven-hour meeting between the labour leaders and the state government.
The industrial action, which started on June 1 led to the shutting down of government offices, health facilities, primary and secondary schools in the state.
Mr Sunday Adeleye, the State Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, said the month-long strike was suspended, following a commitment by the government to start paying workers as from July 4.
Adeleye, however, declined comment on action to be taken if the state government failed to make good its promise.
The chairman said the agreement reached with organised labour had committed the government to immediate payment of January salary to workers.
Adeleye said all local government staff and primary school teachers, including their pensioners, would be paid February 2016 salary in full.
“In addition to January, March 2016 salary will be paid to primary school teachers and local government staff on GL 01 to GL 10 because the available funds cannot pay all categories of workers in that sector.
“February 2016 salary will be paid to health workers in Health Management Board, while the judiciary workers will be paid January and February salaries.
“February, March and April salaries will be paid to the staff of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC),” he said.
Adeleye said that the agreement also stipulated that the state government would buy-back workers’ corporate loans, while a committee had been set up to that effect.
Meanwhile, Mr Kayode Akinmade, the Commissioner for Information, has confirmed the agreement between both parties.
He said a committee had been set up by the state government to handle details of the agreement.
