Workers at the state and local government in Niger State have started a seven-day warning strike over the ‘ineptitude and failure’ of the state to guarantee their welfare.
The state’s council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) took the decision at a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at Labour House.
The council unions began their strike on March 3 while NLC and TUC at the state began theirs yesterday.
“Affiliate unions of NLC at the LGA level in Niger State are directed to proceed on Seven Days Warning Strike effective midnight of Thursday, March 3, 2022.
“All affiliate unions of NLC and TUC in Niger State are directed to proceed on Seven 7 Days Warning Strike effective midnight on Sunday, March 6, 2022”, the communique signed by Niger NLC Chairman Yakubu Garba said.
NLC stressed that the state must address all issues, lamenting that despite the appreciation in revenue, it had failed to defray outstanding debts of third-party deductions made from salaries of civil servants in favour of National Housing Fund, Endwell, cooperatives and unions.
“In addition, government has remained adamant by refusing appeals by NLC to defray the 30 per cent arrears of June 2020 salaries to workers.
“NLC will not accept ineptitude and failure by the executive which was voted in trust to protect the people and guarantee welfare of workers.
“Government must address all issues on insecurity, gratuity, teachers’ salary enhancement, percentage salary payments, implementation of promotion and payment of salary arrears.”
“NLC also frowned at the lack of concern shown by the government over the plight of primary school pupils who have been at home for over eight weeks.
“NLC is shocked by the lack of concern by the Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello led administration over the plight of primary school pupils’’.
It called on the Ministry of Local Government to abide by the State Joint Local Government Accounts Laws for payment of salaries.”
Unfortunately, despite several appeals for Mr Governor to intervene to stop the illegal payment of salaries on percentage, the problem still lingers.’’. Continue Reading
