Workers in Edo State yesterday commenced an indefinite strike following breakdown in negotiations between the government and the state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The strike, expectedly paralysed activities in all government establishments in the state, just as the government said the labour leadership betrayed it.
It would be recalled that penultimate week the Edo state government, NLC, TUC and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had shelved the planned strike following government decision to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.
This agreement was however punctured when teachers in the state who were excluded from the new wage decided to embark on a total strike while accusing the leadership of the NLC in the state of having compromised them.
Announcing the strike in a statement jointly endorsed by the State Chairmen of the NLC, Comrade Emma Ademokun; TUC, Joe Aligbe and Shaka Otoide, Chairman of JNC, yesterday in Benin City, the labour leadership in the state among other things frowned at the alleged imposition of arbitrary taxation on workers in the State, non-implementation of salary relativity to workers in the state.
Others are non release of promotion to Edo State workers from 2008 to date and non democratisation of Local Government administration in the State councils and the unconstitutional deductions from statutory allocation in the state.
But in frantic move to avert the strike by NLC, the secretary to Edo state government, Dr Simon Imuokheme who expressed disappointment on the part of the Labour leadership said Edo state was one of the states to have agreed to implement the minimum wage and added that the government had also assured and invited other affiliates of the Union who were not captured, to the negotiating table.
He stated “You see, Oshiomhole felt betrayed because at the meeting it was agreed that those that were not captured should come for negotiations but in a sudden twist they (NLC) reneged on their part of the agreement.
“In a communiqué that was signed by all the Unions we expect that since that was the situation the group will come forward to negotiate with the government, it was agreed upon that all other sectors not covered will be looked into which we all signed. In this country where other governors are saying they cannot pay but Oshiomhole agreed to pay’’.
The labour leadership statement further enjoined Public sector workers to remain at home and await further directives.
“If Government refuse to heed to the call of the organised labour after one week of this strike, workers in the private sector and the federal Government establishment in the State shall join the Strike action”, the statement added.