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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) in Benue State yesterday commenced an indefinite strike action to press home their demands for the implementation of the ?N18,000 minimum wage.
This was contained in a joint statement signed by the state chairmen of the three labour bodies, Comrades Simon Anchaver (NLC), Ordue Tartenger (TUC), and Terkaa Gusah (JPSNC).
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According to the release, the congress had met with the state government for more than seven times, spanning a period of ] one month to explore means of amicably resolving the issue, but the effort was futile, as government was not sincere.
“Benue State government would recall that government had committed itself towards the fulfillment of an agreement that was signed between organized labour and herself over the implementation of the new national minimum wage on September 19,2011, which was intended to pave the way for smooth takeoff to ensure that the mandate of the content of the agreement was fully enforced. Unfortunately, the state government has reneged on its commitment and resorted into hide and seek tactics, which are meant deliberately to frustrate and impede the agreement.”
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“The congress considers this act of insincerity, inconsistency and lack of truth as a betrayal of an unblemished understanding that the leadership of congress had assumed to exist with the government,” the statement revealed.
The unions said it was therefore calling off workers for an indefinite strike until government honours the wage agreement.