Labour gives Bello 30-day ultimatum to pay Kogi workers’ salary arrears

Forum 7 years ago

Labour gives Bello 30-day ultimatum to pay Kogi workers’ salary arrears

Organised labour on Wednesday gave the Kogi State Government a 30-day ultimatum to pay the seven-month salary owed workers or face a strike action.
The presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued the ultimatum at a rally organised by their respective state chapters at the NLC office in Lokoja.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC National President, told the workers that no reasonable government would owe salaries for seven months.

He said labour would go on strike if the governor refused to address lingering issues and stop the usage of two banks for workers to access their “fundamental human rights”.

The NLC president hailed the workers for their determination to press home their demands despite intimidation from the state government and its apparatus.

“Let me salute you for your courage and determination to pay the ultimate price for your fundamental human rights in the face of threat and intimidation.

“All over the world, nobody gets his right while sitting down and watching without taking any drastic action; there is price for liberty everywhere in the world which is vigilance.

“We have heard about your predicaments and we thought we cannot have the comfort of sitting in Abuja without coming to see and confirm the report we received.

“With our collective strength and unity, we shall surely overcome these predicaments caused by our leaders,” he said.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no arm of government under his watch would mismanage public funds.

The TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, the union would not allow impunity against any worker in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Austin Etabor, he urged the workers to be united as one indivisible force, keeping their hope alive by defending their rights.

The labour leaders urged the media in the state to avoid any form of bias reportage.