The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday threatened to embark on strike over some state governors who have insisted that they cannot implement the National Minimum Wage in their states.
NLC President Abdulwahed Omar, who briefed journalists after the National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) warned that some state governments were still insisting on not paying, adding that Labour and civil society organisations would besiege such states to agitate for compliance from any deviant governments.
The union leaders however ordered the state chapters of NLC to commence indefinite strike once their governors fail to comply with the new wage system.
Omar added that the congress meeting also observed that the situation in the states can be categorised into three groups: those states that negotiations had already been concluded between government and labour and awaiting implementation.
He also said the second category comprises those states that negotiations are either ongoing or just halted and has to resume while the third segment are those states that deliberately decided not to respond to the request for talks by labour regarding the negotiations for the implementation of the new wage Act.
“NEC has decided that all those that have negotiated and agreed and signed with labour should be commended and hopes that implementation should be when as due as per the agreements reached.
“NEC has also directed that those states where negotiations had either been halted or are ongoing, that such negotiations must be concluded before the end of this month, August, and implementation is therefore expected immediately.
“NEC has also directed that in those states where the government decided not to respond to the call by the state councils for negotiations to commence, that immediate ultimatum be served those states and at the end of the ultimatum those states do not need to request to NEC or congress before they commence strike.”
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