The organized Labour Union in Kwara on Tuesday threatened to embark on an industrial strike over what they described as unmet demands on the part of the state government.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, alongside his counterparts in Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Tunde Joseph, and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Comrade Saliu Suleiman, in a joint press briefing held at Labour House, gave
the state government a 14-day ultimatum within which to address the demands of workers in the state employment.
Comrade Olayinka warned that the leadership of the Union could not guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the event that the state government failed to honour and implement series of agreements it entered into with the labour in the next 14 days.
The union leaders alleged that the state government has remained incommunicado on the issues raised on the welfare of members of the state workforce.
He listed some of the grievances of workers as non-implementation of the N35,000 wage award for all categories of workers in the state following fuel subsidy removal, refusal to domesticate and implement 40 percent peculiar allowance in line with the approval of the federal government, non-implementation of consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current new minimum wage in 2019, unwillingness to pay local government workers outstanding arrears and non-implementation of 100 percent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and 100 percent hazard allowance for health workers at local government level.
Others include outstanding arrears of promotion for 2020, 2021, and 2022, inadequate funding of our state-owned tertiary institutions, unwillingness to absorb and proper placement of Kwara Hotel workers without any condition and proper placement of the redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the core civil service.
The NLC Chairman said the labour movement had communicated to the state government on the demands of workers devoid of any attempt to address the issues leading to the current agitation.
“We are constrained to address this press conference, having observed that our dear State is falling apart and the body language of our government does not suit the purpose of mending the cracks. These cracks cut across both the formal and informal sectors of our
State economically, psychologically, physically, and morally.
“On several occasions, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade
Union Congress (TUC) of this State has written government on demands of Workers and observed ills in our State.
“Unfortunately, there was no change or attempt to address issues raised in our letters. As we speak today, all industrial Unions in the State have one demand or another that requires government attention. This is not forthcoming as the government has remained invisible/incommunicado.
“Most pathetic is the fact that the Government of our dear state has refused to honour/implement all written and gentlemanly agreements it entered into with labour.
“The Organized Labour in Kwara State is constrained, given the blatant refusal of the State Government to heed to these demands by Workers of Kwara State. This raised fear for industrial peace and harmony.
“In view of the above, the Congress of Kwara Workers has reviewed the unpalatable disposition of the Government towards Kwara Workers. Therefore, we give the Kwara State Government Fourteen (14) Days ultimatum effective from
9th January 2024 to address all issues raised and communicated before now”, Olayinka said.
Also speaking, the state TUC Chairman, Tunde Joseph, cautioned that the labour movement is unsure of industrial peace and harmony if the state government fails to meet the demands of workers.
