The governor praised the labour leadership and workers for their support throughout his tenure, describing the relationship between his government and Osun workers as one that had been mutually beneficial.

“The time for action has come. As formal workers at state establishments, I task you to mobilise informal workers, artisans and professional bodies. We must remain strong in defence of our constitutional rights to vote and be voted for,” Adeleke said.

He added: “We must defend the gains of the last three and half years plus. Ours is a workers friendly government which has delivered across board to labour and Osun people. We cannot and must not allow a return to dark days.”

The governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, across polling units in Osun state. Nigeria’s main electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is in charge of the election.

After extensive deliberations, both parties agreed that the outstanding two-month wage award would be paid on or before August 15.

The Minister also assured labour leaders that the Federal Government would facilitate the payment of the long-awaited 40 per cent peculiar allowance through a supplementary budget.

According to the resolution, the Ministry of Finance will work with the Budget Office to secure the necessary funding for the allowance.

The meeting also revisited the issue of outstanding promotion arrears, with government agreeing that payment processes for batches seven and nine had been resolved.

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister emphasized the need for continuous engagement with organised labour to strengthen cordial working relationships with union leaders and ensure timely resolution of workers’ welfare issues.

Earlier, Kabiru Ado, who represented the National Chairman of the JNPSNC, Benjamin Anto Uyanto, mni, reassured the Minister of the council’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests.

He said the JNPSNC remained ready “to ensure workers welfare are not subjugated.”

In his remarks, the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga, said the intervention of the union leadership was aimed at preventing an industrial crisis.

He said, “The action of the National leadership of JNPSNC was to prevent National embarrassment to the Federal Government because workers were ready to occupy the Office of the Honourable Minister spontaneously.”

He further urged government officials and agencies to honour agreements reached with workers and improve communication with labour unions.

According to him, “Government officials and agencies of government should always implement decisions and promises to workers without any collapse in communication channels to avoid insinuations.”

He also explained the reason behind the ultimatum earlier issued to the Minister’s office, saying, “The inability of the Honourable Minister of Finance office to respond to our various correspondences led to the ultimatum issued to the Honourable Minister’s office.”

Speaking after the meeting, Olowoyo announced that the August 11 ultimatum had been suspended following the agreements reached with the government.

He said, “With the successful meeting with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the ultimatum of August 11th issued ab initio has been suspended.”

However, he warned that organised labour would closely monitor the implementation of the resolutions reached at the meeting.

According to him, “The leadership of JNPSNC, Trade Union Side, will monitor the implementation of our resolutions at the meeting; any iota of failed implementation, workers will not hesitate to picket the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy without any ultimatum.”

“The invitation is premised on information in possession of the Nigeria Police alleging that during your address at the aforementioned programme, you made statements considered to be threatening, inciting and intimidating in nature, and the statement has already been in circulation on various electronic and social media platforms,” the document reads.

‘I MEANT KILL THEM WITH VOTES’

In a video shared on X on Tuesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, who spoke in Yoruba, asked supporters to lynch members of the Accord Party.

“From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too,” Fadahunsi had said.

In a swift reaction to the backlash generated by the viral video, Fadahunsi attempted to retract his comments, stating that his words were misinterpreted.

The senator’s team said his viral comment was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” his team said in a statement titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence”.

The incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the banner of the Accord party, has repeatedly accused the APC of deploying thugs to attack and kill his supporters.