Minimum Wage: Organized Labour Issues 7-Day Ultimatum

The Organized Labour in Rivers State on Monday, March 16 issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government in a statement by its secretary, Mathew Olabe over non-compliance of the government in meeting its demands.

According to the report, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils in River State have jointly agreed to give the state leadership a seven-day ultimatum which will commence as from March 16.

Naija News understands that the three unions had given the ultimatum following the refusal of the River State government to implement the new minimum wage.

Also in the statement, it was noted that the Union has been sidelined from enjoying annual incremental benefits since 2015 under Governor Nyesom Wike’s led administration.

The statement issued by the organized labour reads; “On the non-seriousness of the state government to resolve the issues in contention despite the window of opportunities offered by the state leadership in view of the intervention of the national leadership.

“Some of the contending issues to include, the reconvening of the negotiating team on the implementation of the new national minimum wage, non- implementation of promotion and annual incremental benefits since the inception of the present administration in 2015, payment of outstanding salary arrears to some workers for February and March 2016 and October 2017, nonpayment of pension and gratuity to pensioners, the disappearance of the one hundred million Naira workers revolving housing/car loan scheme and the immediate removal of the retired head of service and other retired heads of ministries, departments and agencies.

“Failure of the state government to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the above issues at the expiration of the seven days ultimatum with effect from Monday 16th March 2020 it will have no option than to embark on an indefinite strike action without further notice from midnight of Monday 23rd March 2020.”

In another news, an Abuja High Court has granted an interim order allowing the Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Victor Giadom, to act as the party’s national chairman, Naija News report.