Labour: We Are Ready for Positive Action, Confrontation with Plateau Govt

The Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Plateau State Chapter, Comrade Dinatu Assani, said the union was ready for positive action and confrontation with the state government to pay the workers for the outstanding workers’ arrears and other benefits.

Assani said: “We are ready for action and confrontation with government until our demands are met. We are not ready for negotiation again about salaries. We are not coming to negotiate or bargaining for salaries again because enough is enough. National security should take note of that.”

Also, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade, Jibrin Bancir, who was booed by the workers for being a sell out, said it was part of leadership to endure the people of the congress whatever they feel. He was not allowed to speak to the congress.

In his contribution on behalf of Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Comrade, Steve Aluko Daniel, who is also the Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), said unemployment of the youths was unacceptable, adding that enough is enough.

Daniel added that any government wishing to come back will be expected to show it’s performance and nothing else, “We will not mind taking the stance we took to fight the military to a standstill.”

In his remarks, the Plateau State Governor, Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Izam Azi, said:  “The economic realities confronting us have called for diversification of our revenue base beyond the over dependence on oil. Our agriculture, tourism and solid mineral sectors have now become the pride of our economic revival.”

He added that “since workers are the engine room of growth and development of all economies in a well-organised setting, government cannot afford to leave the workforce behind in her quest for this economic revival.”