By Tina George, Minna
The Niger state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has announced that the suspended indefinite strike in will resume on Tuesday, 1st December 2021.
This is contained in a letter signed by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Yakubu Garba and the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Tanimu Yunusa and addressed to Niger state governor.
The development followed the state government’s insistence to cut workers’ salaries by 30 per cent.
Recall that the meeting between the state government and labour on Friday ended in deadlock with both parties sticking to its position.
The union in the letter however stated that the strike would not hold if government pays full November salaries, with the promise of paying the 30 per cent balance of June salary cut.
“The Organized Labour is seriously dismayed over the government’s refusal to effect the refunds of the 30% balance to affected civil servants five months after, but had instead, notified civil servants of its intent to once again pay November 2020 salaries on a percentage basis.
“We write on behalf of the State Executive Council (SEC) of Niger State Organized Labour to convey to your esteemed office the harmonized position of the affiliate unions as follows:
“That Niger State Government should refund the slashed June 2020 salaries to desirable civil servants latest Tuesday, 1st December. That the discussion on payment of outstanding October 2020 salaries of local government workers must be conclusive on or before Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
“That the proposal by Niger State Government to pay November 2020 salaries of LGAs and state workers on a percentage basis is unacceptable and vehemently rejected. That failure of the government to address issues 1, 2 and 3 above, the Organized Labour will be left with no other option than to resume the earlier suspended indefinite strike action effective midnight of Tuesday, December 1, 2020,” the letter reads.
