Strike Looms in Kwara, as Workers Issue 14-day Ultimatum to Govt

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Public workers in Kwara State under the aegis of the Joint Kwara State Labour Congress have threatened to embark on strike after 14 days ultimatum issued to the state government expires over alleged refusal to fulfil the agreement reached with them.

Among the demands of the Labour are the non-implementation of N35,000 Wage Award for all categories of workers in Kwara State following fuel subsidy removal;  refusal to domesticate and implement 40 percent peculiar allowance as approved and provided for by the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the non-payment of consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current New Minimum Wage in 2019.

Others are  lack of willingness to pay local government workers outstanding arrears; outstanding arrears of promotion for 2020, 2021 and 2022; non-implementation of 100 percent CONHESS and 100 percent hazard allowance for health workers at local government level; inadequate funding of state-owned tertiary institutions, non-implementation of 100 percent CONPASS and CONTEDISS for state-owned tertiary institution workers.

 Lack of willingness to absorb and proper placement of Kwara Hotel Workers without any condition, and proper placement of the redeployed Kwara State Water Corporation staff into the service of Kwara State Core Civil Service.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday, the Labour leaders in the state led by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Muritala Saheed, said the ultimatum to the state government is effective from January 9, 2024.

Other Labour leaders at the event  included the state Chairman of the TUC, Tunde Joseph, the state Chairman of the JNC, Comrade Saliu Suleiman, among others.

He said: “Dear comrades, 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 formal and informal sectors of our state economically, psychologically, physically and morally.

“On several occasions, both Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade

Union Congress (TUC) of this dear state have written to the government on the 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 gentleman agreement it entered into with the 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 the state, and this raised fear for industrial peace and harmony.”