Organized Labour in Kwara State has issued a two-week deadline to the state governor to commence negotiations on the N35,000 wage award for workers in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress.
The state chapter of the NLC, JNC, and TUC, which handed down the ultimatum on Monday in a statement issued by their chairmen, Comrade Muritala Shaheed, Comrade Saliu Suleiman, and Comrade Tunde Joseph, said the governor had remained incommunicado and refused to attend to “issues affecting both the formal and informal sectors, encompassing economic, psychological, physical, and moral aspects”.
The union leaders said despite multiple appeals and letters addressing the government regarding workers’ demands and observed shortcomings, there has been no positive response or attempt to rectify the identified issues.
The statement obtained by The Informant247 reads, in part, “On several occasions, both Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of this dear State have written the government on demands of Workers and observed ills in our State. Unfortunately, there was no change or attempt to address issues raised in our letters.
“As we speak today, all industrial Unions in the State have one demand or another that requires government attention; this is not forthcoming as the government has remained invisible/incommunicado. Most pathetic is the fact that the Government of our dear state has refused to honor/implement all writing and gentleman agreement it entered into with labour. Among these are: 1. Non-implementation of thirty-five (N35,000) naira Wage Award for all categories of Workers in Kwara State following fuel subsidy removal. 2. Refusal to domesticate and implement 40% peculiar allowance as approved and provided for by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 3. Non-payment of consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current New Minimum Wage in 2019. 4. Lack of willingness to pay Local Government Workers Outstanding Arrears.
“Others are: 5. Outstanding Arrears of promotion for 2020, 2021, and 2022. 6. Non-implementation of 100% CONHESS and 100% Hazard Allowance for health Workers at the Local Government Level. 7. Inadequate funding of our State-owned Tertiary institutions. 8. Non-implementation of 100% CONPASS and CONTEDISS for our State-owned Tertiary Institution Workers. 9. Lack of willingness to absorb and properly place Kwara Hotel Workers without any condition. 10. Proper placement of the redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the Service of Kwara Core Civil Service.
“The Organized Labour in Kwara State is constrained, given the blatant refusal of the State Government to heed these demands by Workers of Kwara State, and this raises fear for industrial peace and harmony.”
In view, the labour leaders said they had reviewed the unpalatable disposition of the Government toward Kwara Worker, thereby giving them a fourteen (14) Days ultimatum effective 9th January 2024 to address all issues raised.
Labour-friendly governor?
This strike threat is coming days after the NLC chairman Muritala commended the state governor for attending to workers’ welfare in a public event held at the state banquet hall in Ilorin.
In the short clip posted and sponsored on the Facebook page of the state government and well-circulated by government officials, the labour leader said the governor has been decorated as workers friendly.
He said, “We appreciate you for the prompt payment of salaries. We appreciate you for the promotion of workers; the backlogs of promotion. That is why you are given this fellow as a labour-friendly Governor.
