Nassarawa State organized labour has threatened to go on with its planned strike action unless government remit the unsettled three month salaries and comply with other demands.
This was a joint statement made on Monday by the State Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bala Umaru and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Danladi Sabo-Namo during the unions’ congress at the Labour House in Lafia.
Umaru disapprove of government’s threat to lay off all striking workers in the state and that the leadership of the labour union is not discouraged. “Our outstanding salaries of August 2016, percentage of November 2016, February and March 2017 must be paid before we suspend the strike.
“For the past six years, all civil servants in the state were stagnated, no promotion, no annual increment and pensioners were not paid their full entitlements as at when due among others,’’ he lamented.
He wondered why the state government refused to address the workers’ demands but chose to use the weapon of threat.
“If the government has money to recruit fresh workers, why won’t it use the money to pay workers their entitlements.’’
The labour leader said the doors of negotiation were still open. On his part, Sabo-Namo, said the workers were requesting for nothing more than their entitlements.
“We have been considerate and patient with the state government since its inception in 2011. This time, if our demands are met, we don’t mind to extend the strike until Gov. Umar Al-Makura leaves office in 2019,” he remarked.
He charged workers to be aware of the impending strike action and should not consider any rumour stating that it has been cancelled, but wait on the union leadership on the next line of action.
Media report confirmed compliance as government ministries and departments visited were locked.
The strike action kicked off by midnight of Thursday at the expiration of deadline issued to the state government.
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