NLC, TUC Mobilise Workers For Mass Protest In Nasarawa State

The organised labour, comprising Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, has said that it would not call of its strike action in Nasarawa State until the government heeds to their demands.

The Union accused the state government of not being sincere and ready to implement the demands of workers

Recall, the Unions had embarked on an indefinite strike earlier this month as they alleged lack of promotion for workers, lack of annual increment of salaries, lack of training, non payment of gratuity, lack of housing for workers.

Other complaints included; non payment of local government staff including primary school teachers, non implementation of minimum wage, non payment of the last tranche of August 2016 salary arrears and non confirmation of workers appointment by the government, among others.

However, two weeks into the strike, the State Chairman of NLC, Yusuf Iya, said that members of the unions would be mobilised for a mass protest in the State.

According to him, the unions leaders had refused to append their signatures on the agreement reached with the state government due to an indicting clause noticed in the document the day the agreement was to be signed.

A part of the clause pointed out by Iya read, “In the event that the allocation from the federation account decreases or reduces, government shall not hesitate to go back to the old salary without the promotion being implemented.”

But Iya described the clause as “Satanic” because it negates the principles upon which labour law was crafted.

He said, “Our resolution is that so long as the government does not expunge that clause which we describe as satanic, we are not going back on the industrial action.”