The Organized Labour Unions in Niger State have served notice of the commencement of an indefinite strike action over the perceived failure of the State Government to meet their demands.
The organized labour unions in the state acting under the auspices of the Niger State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart Trade Union Congress (NUC) were said to have held a meeting with Governor Umaru Bago on Monday at the Government House in Minna which was allegedly stalemated following the inabilities of the parties to agree on some of the issues discussed in addition to the presentation of some demands to the state government which was also not implemented by the latter.
The two labour unions led by their state chairmen had written a letter to the state Governor Bago, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent in Minna the state capital on Tuesday, dated February 19 and signed by both the State Chairman, NLC Comrade Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, and the chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ibrahim Gana, saying the strike would commence by 8 am on Wednesday, (today) February 21, 2024.
The letter, copies of which were made available to Journalists in Minna on Tuesday, read in parts that “We are writing in furtherance to our earlier letter of ultimatum Ref no. OL/NS/040/GEN/Vol 4/29 dated 20/12/23 and the deadlock on settlement of issues as a result of negotiations with the Niger State Government Committee.
It said, “We wish to formally inform the Government that effective 8 am on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, that Niger State workers shall commence an indefinite strike action until our demands are comprehensively met.
ALSO READ: Jigawa Assembly advances impeachment of Speaker during Hajj trip
“Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate that our doors are open for negotiation subject to the conveyance of formal invitation, reversal of all appointments in dispute i.e, Executive Directors Finance, Executive Directors Admin and Executive Directors Operations, Chairman, members and permanent commissioners of Local Government Service Commission and Civil Service Commission, Directors General (DGs) of some agencies
“A clear statement by the government on payment of wage award.
“We also wish to stress that the idea of appointing Permanent Secretaries who are not eligible and within the service will no longer be tolerated by the Organised Labour.
“Accordingly we call on the government to withdraw the recent appointment of a Vice Principal on secondment as a Permanent Secretary to allow for career progression from within.
“We also call on the government to desist from victimising teachers and members from the educational sector as a result of the recent debate by some primary school pupils in Agaie Local Government Area” the statement maintained.
The organised labour however reiterated its commitment to the governor’s New Niger Project, emphasising that there was no response to previous correspondence.
It, however, assured that its doors were still open for negotiation.
and then