Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has
appealed to the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to shelve
its planned strike for peace and industrial harmony. News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) recalls that the organised labour in the state had on Jan. 14 given a
21-day ultimatum to the state government to implement the new N30, 000 minimum
wage.
However, Bello in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mrs Mary Berje in Minna on Tuesday, said government was working relentlessly to
ensure that all pending issues concerning civil servants were addressed
swiftly. He said that negotiations were still ongoing and government was doing
its best to improve the living standard of the people in spite of the
challenges and paucity of funds.
Bello explained that the state
government had commenced implementation of the National Minimum Wage, assuring
that its consequential adjustment and arrears would be paid as soon as
government and labour concluded negotiations. “We are still negotiating with
labour, we intend to avert the industrial action and we are calling on the
organised labour to rescind its decision to embark on the strike and allow
negotiations to continue,’’ he said.
He explained that key government officials led by the Deputy
G ov., Ahmed Ketso and labour officials would meet to discuss the way forward
and outcome of the meeting would be made public.
Bello noted that though, 85 per cent of the
state’s allocation was used for payment of salaries, government had remained
committed to the welfare of the state civil servants and would not relent until
an agreement was reached. NAN also reports that the workers are also demanding
a consequential adjustment of their salaries based on the new minimum wage and
payment of accumulated salary arrears. The workers are expected to commence an
indefinite strike today by 12 midnight if agreement is not reached between the
state government and the organised labour.
