The organized labour in Nasarawa State has begun mobilizing workers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike if the state government fails to commence implementation of the National Minimum Wage and payment of fuel subsidy removal palliatives to civil servants within 21 days.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Ismaila Okoh stated this during a press briefing at the end of an emergency meeting of leaders of the organized labour in Lafia the state capital.
Addressing the workers, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Ismaila Okoh stated that the state government had failed to take definite actions on the implementation of workers promotion and the national minimum wage which were long over due as well as provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
Comrade Okoh called on the leaders of the various unions in the organized labour to remain steadfast and be united to the struggle to ensure better working condition.
“We observe with dismay that the palliatives released by the federal government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal for workers have not been given to workers,” he pointed out.
Chairman of the State Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Shawulu Tamah stressed the need for the state government to take urgent steps towards addressing the demands of the workers to guarantee industrial harmony.
“Workers can no longer eat three square meals with their families. The salaries we have been collecting many years ago are still the same but prices of goods and services have gone up,” he said
Also speaking, the state Chairman of Senior civil servants of Nigeria, Comrade Haruna Ewa who spoke on behalf of the Trade Union Congress stated that Nasarawa State workers had ran out of patience considering impact of the removal of fuel subsidy which according to him had further worsened their economic condition.
Efforts to contact the state Head of Civil Service Ms Abigail Waya for comments proved abortive as she could not respond to calls and text messages put through her telephone handset.