NLC Begins Indefinite Strike Over Poor Pay

NLC Begins Indefinite Strike Over Poor Pay in Nasarawa

The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, is set to begin an indefinite strike over poor workers’ welfare, in Nasarawa state.

The strike action was declared by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Yusuf Iya, during a press briefing on Monday in Lafia, the state capital.

Iya stated the action is influenced by the poor treatment of workers by the Nasarawa State Government, following several years of being patient with the government.

Part of complaints made by the union include lack of promotion, lack of annual increment of salaries, lack of training, non-payment of gratuity, non payment of local government staff, including primary school teachers, and non-implementation of minimum wage.

Comrade Iya said, “We are calling on the state government to demonstrate genuine commitment by ensuring that our demands are met considering the long period it has taken and the continued assurance by the present administration that it will meet up with our demands.

“Workers in the state have been stagnated for over a decade hence the need for government to implement promotions at hand. As for the promotion yet to be issued from 2018, we call on the government to process them and issue to deserving workers immediately,” he said.

He added, “The Nasarawa State Government should as a matter of urgency key into the contributing pension scheme to relieve the government the huge burden of pension and gratuity found in the state.

“We hereby direct all public servants in the state, including private sector workers who are affiliates to the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, to proceed on an indefinite strike action as from Tuesday, June 15, 2021 until when our demands are met.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in the state, Mohammed Doma, said, “The decision to embark on an indefinite strike action is our collective decision and it is a case of no retreat, no surrender. We have suffered for a long time.”