Civil servants in Niger State have embarked on an indefinite strike following the directive issued by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) due to the state government’s failure to address their demands.
The strike action was initiated after negotiations between the labour unions and the state government reached an impasse.
NLC State Chairman, Idrees Lafene, and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Ibrahim Gana, instructed civil servants to cease work indefinitely, citing the government’s reluctance to engage in meaningful discussions concerning workers’ welfare and the state’s affairs.
In response, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, acknowledged the impending strike and expressed the government’s commitment to resolving the issues through dialogue. He assured the public of the administration’s dedication to addressing contentious matters in the state’s interest.
However, despite assurances of a meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, aimed at resolving the impasse, efforts to reach Lafene for updates on the outcome of the meeting were unsuccessful.
Subsequently, a source within the labour union, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the anticipated meeting did not occur, signaling that the strike would proceed as planned.
Efforts to obtain further information from the Information Officer of the SSG, Tanko Lawal, proved futile as his phone line remained inaccessible.
As the strike commences, the union has urged its branches to mobilize members for full compliance, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in advocating for improved welfare and addressing the concerns of Nigerians.
