Nonpayment of salaries: NLC begins indefinite strike in Benue

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue on Tuesday embarked on indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union commenced the strike following the collapse of negotiations between labour and the state government.

A correspondent of NAN who monitored the strike in Makurdi reports that all government offices were under lock and key in compliance with the NLC directive.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Makurdi, Benue NLC chairman, Godwin Anya, said the organized labour in the state was satisfied with the level of compliance with the action.

Anya said that the state government had failed to address the workers’ grievances, especially the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity, adding that the strike would continue until their demands were met.

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He said that labour was not aware of an offer of two months salary from the state government, adding that such an offer would be rejected.

“They should start from five months, then, we can begin negotiations.

“What we have ever received since the declaration of state of emergency on salaries is screening exercise, nothing short of that,” he said.

Anya also said that the NLC in the state was not involved in the disbursement of funds to workers.

Gov. Samuel Ortom had said on several occasions that his administration operated transparent fiscal system where all revenues accruing to the state were openly disbursed with participation of the organized labour.