The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum, beginning from Monday 19, December 2011, to the Federal, State and the Local Governments in Nigeria to finalise discussions and implement the new N18, 000 national minimum wage.
NCSU in a communiqué jointly signed by the President, Comrade Kiri Mohammed and General Secretary, Comrade G.E. Ukeri said this followed a resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) at the end of its meeting in Abuja.
According to the communiqué, it is an impeachable offence for the three tiers of governments to refuse to respect the nation’s constitution, stressing that the new minimum wage act mandated every employer of labour with a minimum number of 50 work force or more, to pay the N18000 minimum wage.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, the union urged the Federal Government to urgently fix the existing refineries rather than depend on importation of fuel for the country’s local consumption.
It described the steps taken by the government on the subsidy issues as callous since it has failed to realise the consequences and harshness of the policy on the masses.
The communiqué reads in part: “NEC in session is seriously concerned on the spate of bombings, kidnaps and terrorism claiming lives of innocent citizens on the country, and call on security agencies to brace up and face the challenges.”
The union decried the difficulties experienced by civil servants who have to park their cars and trek about four kilometres to get to their various offices at the Federal Secretariat Abuja, due to congested parking spaces, noting with dismay, that the provided spaces are restricted and reserved for only a few calibre in the service.