NLC strike: Bauchi residents urged to stock foodstuffs

THE Bauchi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Hashimu Gital has urged residents of Bauchi State most especially civil servants, to stock enough foodstuffs and other things needed in preparation for the impending total strike action proposed by the organised labour come November 6 if no consensus was reached on the proposed minimum wage in the country.

The advice was given by the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Hashim Gital in an interview with newsmen, lamenting that in spite of the workers loyalty to the government to bring down their demand for a new minimum wage from N65,000 to N30,000 which was agreed upon by the government and the Union, it was glaring that the government was not willing to comply with the agreement because it has remained mute and adamant on the issue since then.

“The current N18,000 minimum wage is no longer sustainable and as such, the union will not hesitate to embark on the strike if the government refused to honour the agreement reached on the minimum wage of N30,000”, he said.

ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Doctors separate conjoined twins in Abuja hospital

While receiving the workers at the Bauchi state Secretariat, the State Head of Civil service, Alhaji Liman Bello urged the labour leaders to conduct their affairs peacefully and within the confines of law just as he commended the state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar for prompt payment of workers salaries, urging the workers to complement the gesture.

It would be recalled that a protest rally took the workers to the State Secretariat, Federal Secretariat, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic as well as the biggest markets in the state, Muda Lawan and Wunti Markets where they were received by their respective union leaders ‎in the state who promised their unflinching support to the planned indefinite strike.

It was further gathered that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)‎ Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi chapter did not join the earlier warning strike due to communication gap but the Chairman of the Union in the institution, Muhammad Bala Yakubu said his members are fully prepared to comply this time around.

In his response, the Rector of the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, (ATAP) Bauchi, Dr Mohammed Suleiman Lame who said he was happy to receive the Union leaders ‎in the Polytechnic expressed hope that the action of the Labour Congress will take the Nigerian workers out of their present predicament.

“I hope that the federal government will look into the matter with a view to finding a lasting solution. And I equally call on the government to also look into various sectors of the economy with a view to improving them‎”, Lame said.

At the Muda Lawan Market, the Chairman of Traders and Artisans Association, Alhaji Bala Maikaji said his entire members a‎re solidly behind the planned strike as according to him, traders and artisans rely so much on the civil servants for their income, as such, it would be well with them if the salaries of civil servants are improved.
It would be recalled that Hashim Gital had on Tuesday led other sister Union leaders such as the NUT, TUC among others on a rally round the town to sensitize members of the public on why they would embark on the strike action saying that the indefinite industrial action became imperative due the insensitivity of the government towards workers plight across the country.