NLC FCT, Five Other States Threatens Strike as Panel Meets

ABUJA, NASARAWA- Workers in the Federal Capital Territory, Cross River, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Kaduna, and Zamfara states threaten to strike on Monday (today) if state officials fail to negotiate the payment of the N70,000 new minimum wage.

The FCT Council of the NLC had already urged workers in the six Area Councils to go on indefinite strike on December 1 until additional instructions were delivered.

Stephen Knabayi, Chairman of the NLC's FCT Council, signed a letter on Saturday containing this information.

The various state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress have stated their willingness to go on strike, although the implementation panels established by the relevant states have been meeting with labor leaders in an attempt to prevent the strike action.

On Sunday, the NLC's Nasarawa State chapter said it was prepared to call a strike if the minimum wage was not paid.

Ismaila Okoh, the chairman of the state NLC, revealed that all of the labor members had received a notice of strike.

Although no agreement had been signed about its implementation, he disclosed that the Nasarawa State government and the union had agreed to pay the workers N70,500.

He said, “We have notified all our members to embark on strike tomorrow (today) because of the non-implementation of the national minimum wage in the state.

“Although the minimum wage committee set up by the state government has agreed to start paying N70,500, no document has been signed to that effect up till this moment.

“So, we are observing the situation to see if the documents on the minimum wage will be signed before tomorrow morning. However, if nothing is done between now and midnight, our members will have to fully comply with the strike as they were directed.”