The Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Trade Union side of the state Joint Negotiation Council, alleged that the government has not been cooperating with labour over the matter.
The Organised Labour said in its bulletin, that, “While we commend the state government for being one of the pioneer states to implement the 2019 new minimum wage on grade level 01 to 06, trade union side is really disappointed with the way the state government is handling the consequential adjustment negotiations for those on grade levels 07 to 17.”
The Organised Labour said it was aware of a pronouncement by the government promising payment of consequential adjustments to senior civil servants by the end of this month but that what the government has in mind is unacceptable.
It said, “The Organised Labour disassociates and extricates itself from the state government’s offer that negotiations be concluded and agreement reached and signed to include all local government staff, local education authority staff and primary health workers.”
According to the Organised Labour, the government side of the Joint Negotiation Council was not given full mandate to represent the government on the consequential adjustment negotiations, for which reason the government rejected the positions of both the trade union side and that of government side.
The Organised Labour said it has therefore resolved to give the state government up to February 17th “within which to conclude negotiation with full mandate which will culminate into the signing of collective bargaining document, or else industrial peace and harmony will not be guaranteed in the state.”
It urged workers to remain calm and await further directives.
