Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Ebonyi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a one-week warning strike following the inability of the state government to fully implement the 70.000 minimum wage in the state.
In a statement signed by over 18 members of the Labour union and made available to journalists in Abakaliki on Sunday, the state Labour chairman, prof Egwu Ogugua,alleged that the state government failed to work with the minimum wage implementation committee which he set up in October.
NLC Ebonyi further condemned the alleged payment of NGN2,100 by civil servants in the state to participate in the ongoing staff audit exercise, which the Government approved without any discussion
and commitment from the side of workers.
NLC expressed hope that even as they embark on the warning strike action, the workers believe in the kind disposition of governor Nwifuru as a workers-friendly Governor to do the needful for best interest of Ebonyi workers.
The statement read in parts, “On behalf of the entire State Council, we convey a notice of a one-week warning strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ebonyi State beginning from 00:00 hours of 1st December 2024.
“This is in line with the directive of 8th November 2024 by our national body to all State Councils in States yet to comply with extant procedures based on collective bargaining and eventual implementation of the New National Minimum Wage. This decision is a result of the following
reasons:
“Recall that on the 2nd of October, 2024, through the Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, you inaugurated a Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. Just about when the Committee was fine-tunning its presentation, Your Excellency unilaterally pronounced a wage award of NGN75,000 to grade levels 1 and 2, and NGN40,000 across-board award for
Grade levels 3-16. This was done in a church service (Holy Mass in Government House Chapel) on the 27th of October 2024.
“This wage award, which you christened “minimum wage”, is averse to the traditional procedures of implementing minimum wage, no matter the magnitude of the beautiful intent with which you made the pronouncement. When a Minimum wage is pronounced, it goes through the rigours of consequential adjustments that will translate into an agreement signed by both the Government and the Organised Labour.
“The pronouncement made was not a product of any collective bargaining agreement as we were never part of any consultation that led to the said
pronouncement.
“To make matters worse for Ebonyi workers, the salary chart forced on workers and currently used did not undergo any consequential adjustment and has consistently malnourished the take-home pay of workers as it lacks minimal progression. This led to our dear state being mentioned as one of those that never implemented the NGN30,000 minimum wage of 2019.
“Your Excellency Sir, the Implementation Committee, which we are all part of, has arrived at an acceptable salary chart with consequential adjustment and substantial progression. Even the cost implication when compared with the award of October 2024 has been generated and discussed with you.
“Your Excellency, all efforts made by the Chairman of the Committee you set up to bring these facts to your notice have yielded no positive results. Even our candid, civil and appealing efforts have also yielded no results as you have vehemently ignored that kind inner drive of yours to better the lives of Ebonyi Workers.
” Our last interaction with you on the 27th of November, when we passionately appealed that you rescind your decision and take the path of goodwill to the people in line with your People’s Charter of Needs mantra, appears to be an interaction that crushed the hearts of the workers most, because you unequivocally said a capital “NO” to our friendly appeal. Your Excellency, that was strange to us, giving your fatherly disposition that has always fetched your children a good opinion. Despite the excruciating pains of a depressed economy and low income of workers, we have been informed that workers are asked to pay the sum of NGN2,100 to participate in a staff audit exercise, which the Government approved without any discussion
and commitment from the side of workers.
“As we convey this position, Sir, most workers at the Local Government Councils are yet to receive their October 2024 salaries. Teachers who are being paid are paid through a different bank channel creating confusion as most statutory deductions are not effected. This is an
anomaly that needs to be corrected before our poor teachers are further plunged into debilitating and abject poverty. Delays in the payment of monthly salaries of these Local Government Councils have become perennial and consistently weighed down on the psyche of the workers.
“Congress therefore met on 27th November and critically reviewed the flow of events and noted with pain, these actions and inactions, and unanimously resolved to embark on a one-week warning strike
with effect from 00:00 hours of 1st December 2024 for the Government to reconsider its stance on the issue of Minimum wage as well as engage the Committee set-up for this purpose as due diligence.
“Yes, Congress noted that our wonderful relationship with your government should have been an avenue for us to resolve these issues before any form of industrial disharmony. Even as we embark on
this action, we still believe in your kind disposition as a workers-friendly Governor”.