From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi
The Organised Labour in Kebbi state has issued the government 21 days within which to implement the N18,500 minimum wage or risk an indefinite strike by workers in the state.
The strike threat was issued yesterday after a meeting of the leaderships of the Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] and Trade Union Council [TUC] in the state on Wednesday.
Kebbi state Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Sadiq Kao’je, said yesterday that it is now 15 months since the state governor, Saidu Dakingari pledged verbally to implement the new minimum wage, but is yet to fulfill his promise.
“This (pledge) was not backed up with an enabling circular which is very unusual, and has never happened in the history of Kebbi state and indeed anywhere in the country”, Kao’je said.
He explained that the 21 days ultimatum would be effective from June 18 to July 8, warning that if government fails to meet their demands, they would have no option but to mobilize workers to embark on strike.
“It is in consideration of the negative effects of this on salary, retirement and of course death benefits, and having exhausted all the peaceful means to get the circular released for over one year now, that the Organized Labour resolved to use the option of showdown with government on this and other burning issues regarding workers welfare”, he added.
He urged the Kebbi state workers to prepare for an indefinite industrial action, if at the end of the expiration of the ultimatum, government does not respond to their demands.
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