- NLC tackles Governor Nwifuru over threat to sack workers
- 75,000 minimum wage: Workers pledge support for Adeleke’s re-election
Government activities were grounded yesterday in three states and the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) following a work boycott by public workers over how the new minimum wage was being implemented.
The workers deserted the FCT area councils, government secretariats, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the affected states—Ebonyi, Kaduna, and Nasarawa —in compliance with the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) directive.
The governments of the states had announced a minimum wage to be paid but there was disagreement on the mode of implementation..
Ebonyi approved N75,000; Nasarawa, N70,500 and Kaduna, N72,000. .
The Minimum Wage Act 2024 stipulates N70,000 for the least-paid worker.
FCT
In the FCT, the six area council chairmen were unable to stave off the strike with workers staying away from their duty posts.
Our correspondent who visited the Kuje Area Council and others noticed that offices were under lock and key.
A few workers, who were seen discussing in groups, dispersed after waiting for hours without a clear position on the matter.
Abdullahi Kabbi, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), FCT chapter, told The Nation that the “ FCT area councils will remain under lock and key until they implement the N70,000 minimum wage.’’
Kabbi added: “We don’t have any explanation as to why they have not started the minimum wage implementation.
“As directed by the union, we are to boycott all invitations for meetings, training, or programmes until our demands are met.
”Staff members of the FCT area councils are demotivated, demoralised and have gradually been deactivated by the system
“We deserve fair treatment and compensation. Our demands must be met before we engage in any activities.
”We must comply with this(strike) directive to the fullest.”
He stated that the councils were yet to implement the 40 percent Peculiar Allowance, 25 percent CONHESS/CONMESS Salary Increase, salary adjustment, and pending arrears of hazard allowance, promotion arrears, monetisation arrears, Arrears of COVID-19.
The NULGE chief listed the non-payment of “ six-month wage award to area councils staff members and non-remittance of Pension deductions’’ as other issues that fuelled the strike.
Ebonyi
In Abakaliki where angry Governor Francis Nwifuru vowed to sack any striking worker who failed to resume work by tomorrow, NLC President Joe Ajaero said his threat was “irresponsible and unhelpful.”
Nwifuru told reporters that he had directed all commissioners and heads of departments and agencies to open attendance registers to be used to determine those ready to work and those not ready.
His words: “If you didn’t go to work. not only that I will not pay your salary, but I will replace you within 72 hours if you are not seen in your office.
“ I have directed all the commissioners to go to their offices. All heads of departments of government and agencies must have records of the people who come to work.
“People that come to work will earn their salary through table payment and that will be based on the number of days they are in their offices. Anyone who fails to come to work should forget about state government.”
The governor said even though the minimum wage law stipulates that the least paid worker should be paid N70,000 per month, he magnanimously added N2,000.
He added that his government also made incremental salary adjustments for other categories of workers in the state.
Nwifuru said it was unfortunate that labour leaders opted to call for a strike instead of telling workers the truth.
But the NLC in a statement by Ajaero said it was ‘’dismayed’’ that Nwifuru could threaten the state’s workers with sack.
It said the strike followed failed conversations and notices to the governor months after the minimum wage law came into being.
The congress urged the striking workers to sustain the momentum until the “governor sees the need to not only behave properly but pay the minimum wage in compliance with the law.”
It said further directives would be issued “in the coming hours.”
The statement reads: “We are dismayed by the statement credited to the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Nwifuru that except the striking workers in the state over non-payment of the National Minimum Wage resume work immediately, they should consider themselves sacked.
“We recall that the strike action was preceded by failed conversations and notices to the Governor on the need to implement the 2024 national minimum wage since it was signed into law several months ago.
“The law has provisions for enforcement by workers. Besides this, strike action is a lawful/legitimate tool in the hands of aggrieved workers.
“In light of this, we consider the threats by the Governor as irresponsible and unhelpful.
“What a reasonable governor acting reasonably ought to have done was to invite the labour leaders in the state for dialogue for a speedy resolution of the facts in issue. But he thinks he is God.
“On our part, we want the world to know that Governor Nwifuru is the first to draw blood in a matter of which he is completely guilty.
“We also want the world to know that the right of response is available to us in pursuance of a just cause.
‘’Accordingly, the national secretariat of the congress has directed all the affiliates, including those in the private sector to immediately join in the strike action.
‘’It similarly urged the workers already on strike to not yield to the threats of the governor. They are to sustain the momentum until the governor sees the need to not only behave properly but pay the minimum wage in compliance with the Law.
“In the coming hours, further directives will be given as we deem fit.”
NLC Chairman in the state Ogugua Egwu said the strike recorded 90 percent compliance despite the late release of the circular on Sunday evening.
Kaduna
Activities in Kaduna State ministries and agencies were brought to a halt on Monday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) commenced a one-week warning strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage’s consequential adjustments.
Our correspondent who monitored the strike around the Kaduna metropolis reported that apart from the state secretariat along the Independence Way and MDAs, the water corporation and high court were the worst hit.
A civil servant who requested anonymity claimed that the salary increase was minimal, with increments ranging from N4,000 to N5,000.
The state NLC Chairman, Ayuba Suleiman, had on Sunday insisted that the strike was in line with directives from the national leaderships of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress(TUC).
Suleiman explained that the strike was not about the state government accepting to pay the minimum wage but its failure to implement the agreed consequential increment.
TUC also criticised ‘’government’s unilateral implementation of the new wage, saying it was contrary to collective bargaining principles.
But Governor Uba Sani defended his government’s position, stating that the least paid worker had an N72,000 salary in November.
He urged patience by the workers, citing the state’s limited revenue.
Read Also: Minimum wage strike call sparks states, Labour row
Nasarawa
The state House of Assembly, Federal University Teaching Hospital, state secretariat, and judicial system were the worst hit as they were completely shut by workers.
Chairman of the NLC council Ismaila Okoh said the workers embarked on strike because the government was merely verbally committed to an N70,500 minimum wage.
Okoh said the government had failed to provide a written agreement specifying payment terms.
Perform or be fired, Adeleke warns Osun workers
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke warned workers in the state against bad attitudes that can negatively affect productivity and efficiency in the state’s civil service.
Adeleke gave the warning yesterday while addressing the workers in front of his office. They held a solidarity walk to appreciate the governor over the implementation of N75, 558.24 minimum wage and additional N25,000 for pensioners.
According to him, “they don’t call me talk and do governor for nothing, when I say something I do it. During the campaign I said my number one priority is to make sure our workers are happy.
“It’s a sin for someone to work and not get paid, that is not me, I wish Osun State allocation is like Lagos and Akwa Ibom’s own, I would have done more but no matter what with the little we are earning I’ll make sure you are happy.”
Adeleke promised to improve the tax system of the state for residents to get more dividends of democracy.
He said: “We are teaching them how to do politics without bitterness, because government is a continuum. All the abandoned projects, my government is doing it.
“I did not even sack the people they employed, all I do is that if you are going to do a good job, I won’t sack you but once you don’t do a good job, you are gone.”
Earlier, the Osun State chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chris Arapasopo commended Adeleke for the new minimum wage.
“We are going ask for more from the state and I urge our members to improve on service delivery,”, the Labour leader said.