By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Government activities in Niger State will soon be grounded as workers threaten to resume strike on Tuesday December 1, 2020 over government’s plan to slash their November salaries.
The state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that the strike would only stop if it had fruitful discussion with government before the date.
While previous discussions with the state government on the issue had failed, the state NLC Chairman, Yakubu Garba, insisted that the workers’ salaries must not be paid on percentage basis as proposed by the government.
Already, the workers, via the NLC Chairman, Yakubu Garba, and TUC Chairman, Comrade Tanimu Yunusa, have written to the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, through the Niger Head Service, rejecting the government’s idea.
In the letter titled, “Resumption of suspended indefinite strike action” and signed by NLC Chairman, Comrade Yakubu Garba; and TUC Chairman, Comrade Tanimu Yunusa, the workers insisted: “We write on behalf of the State Executive Council (SEC) of Niger State Organised 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 Organised Labour also expressed dismay over the government’s refusal to effect the refunds of the 30 per cent balance to affected civil servants five months after.