A meeting between the Kwara state government and organised labour unions failed to hold back the strike called by the unions.
As a result of the deadlock, the workers said the strike will start on Tuesday, October 13 as scheduled.
THE INFORMANT247 earlier reported that the labour leaders had given the state government 14-day ultimatum to start payment of the new national minimum wage at a press conference in Ilorin on September 28.
The labour leaders also rejected another round of workers’ verification and audit by the Government as condition for payment of minimum wage to the workers.
However, the state government, in a statement by the State Commissioner for Communication, Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin on Wednesday, said staff audit and verification of workers are part of its efforts to reposition the public service in the state and not a precondition for the payment of the minimum wage.
The governorment added that payment of the proposed minimum wage is not practicable for the local government workers.
The labour resolution, jointly signed by the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Aliyu Issa Ore, Ag state Chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ezekiel Adegoke and state Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC-TUS) Saliu Suleiman, after the meeting on Thursday read partly, “The Congress in session agreed to go on with the proposed industrial action if the state government refused to sign and implement the new minimum wage within the 14 days ultimatum given by the labour movement.
“The Congress in session agreed to call for an enlarged SEC meeting in order to sensitize and equip them for the industrial action.
“The Congress in session resolved to mobilise every member from all the affiliate unions towards the commencement of the strike coming up on Tuesday 13th October 2020.
“The leadership of the Labour unions will not call off the industrial strike until our demands are met.
“The leadership of the Labour movement assured workers in the state that they will not betray the confidence repose in us while the strike last.”
