Organised Labour Threatens Strike, Gives Governor 7 Days To Conclude Minimum Wage Negotiations
In a communique issued on Saturday, the Organized Labour warned that should the government fail to meet up with the deadline, it would be forced to reactivate its earlier suspended strike action.
The Organized Labour in Abia State has given the state government a seven-day ultimatum to conclude the negotiations on the new minimum wage, starting from Saturday, October 26.
In a communique issued on Saturday, the Organized Labour warned that should the government fail to meet up with the deadline, it would be forced to reactivate its earlier suspended strike action.
The communique was jointly signed by the state chairman and secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Com. Okoro Ogbonnaya and Com. Emma Alozie. Other signatories are the Trade Union Congress (TUC) State Chairman and Secretary, Com. Sir. I.O Enogwe and Com. George O. S. Okogbue, and the Chairman and Secretary of the State Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Com. Ekere Uwadi and Com. Oby Madubuko.
According to the communique, there is an agreement between the Organized Labour and the government on the proposed new minimum wage for Abia State workers, noting that the government has yet to provide the payment template regarding the consequential adjustment to other categories of workers in the state.
The communique partly reads: “Arising from its joint meeting of SAC and SEC, the Organized Labour exhaustively reviewed the activities in the New Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee of the State.
“The Organized Labour expressed her displeasure in the way and manner the government side has been handling the discussions.
“The Organized Labour frowned on the lack of transparency of the government in issuing the template with which she wants to pay the minimum wage, whereas they have been in custody of the Organized Labour’s proposed template for over 7 days.
“Consequently, the Organized Labour resolved as follows: (a) That there is no agreement between the Organized Labour and the government occasioned by none provision of payment template by the government.
“(b) That whatever the State Government have decided to pay the workers this October will be termed as a bonus payment to cushion the effect of hardship/palliative award and not minimum wage.
“(c) That government henceforth should show seriousness and commitment in the negotiation of the New National Minimum wage.
“(d) That notwithstanding the delays and dillydally from the government, the effective date for the payment of the New National Minimum wage remains 29th July, 2024.
“In the light of the above the State Organized Labour hereby issues a seven (7) day ultimatum to Abia State Government within which to conclude the negotiation of the New minimum Wage starting from Saturday 26th October to Midnight of Friday 1 of November, 2024.
“At the expiration of this ultimatum by mid-night of Friday 1 November, 2024, the Organized Labour would be forced to reactivate her earlier suspended strike action.”
