By Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the partial implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage in the state.
Comrade Yusuf Iya, Chairman of NLC in the state stated this in an interview with the Sun News, Tuesday in Lafia saying the union has observed that the government only want to implement minimum wage for workers in grade level 1-6 without the corresponding consequential adjustments for other grade levels.
“Let me make it categorically clear that the implementation made by the Nasarawa state Government negates the principles and procedures of minimum wage implementation.
“Implementation of minimum wage required that there must be a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) duly signed by both parties or employers and employees and a template must be adopted for reference purpose.
“A copy of the agreement must be domiciled at the office of the Hon Minister of Labour and Employment, but non of the requirements has been fulfilled in Nasarawa State,” the NLC boss in the state added.
Iya presume that the Nasarawa State Government acted as a result of the fear of the threat by the Minister of Labour to drag any state yet to implement the new national minimum wage to court.
The NLC Chairman also said that even in the said implementation, Local Government workers in grade level 1-6 were sidelined.
He added that it also means that anybody who is a graduate entering the service of the state from grade level seven and above cannot benefit from the minimum wage.
He further emphasised that the said implementation was just mirage because the outstanding promotions is over ten years which has not implemented, non of the beneficiary would still be in the level he or she is now.
Still analysing the implementation, he said only a total of 3,300 workers are to benefit out of a total of 16,000 workers which the union had rejected.
The NLC Chairman said already the union had issued a 21-day notice of strike and subsequently issued a seven day notice after the first one expired in line with labour laws.
He explained that if the government fail to do the needful after the expiration of the seven day notice on Wednesday June 8, the union would embark on an indefinite strike action.
He further explained that the Traditional Council of Chiefs had intervened and appealed that the union should give them up till Thursday June 10 to interface with the governor with a view of addressing it.
He said thought the ultimatum given to the government would elapse on Thursday, the union would give grace to enable the traditional rulers speak to the governor.
Meanwhile, the Sun News recalls that Mr Zakka Yakubu, Accountant General of Nasarawa State had on Thursday June 3, 2021 announced implementation of minimum wage for workers in grade level 1-6.
