There is anxiety within the organised labour in Kwara state over the delay in the implemention of N30, 000 national minimum wage for workers.
The state government and the negotiating committees comprising representatives of the organised labour have failed to agree on the consequential adjournments table after meeting for more than three times in a week.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a joint congress held at the labour House, implored workers to embark on a three day fasting and prayer commencing from Wednesday February 5 to 7 for God’s intervention on the matter .
The organised labour also gave 14 days ultimate to the state government to commence the implement of the new wage saying it should not be held responsible for any industrial action should the government failed to do so.
The atmosphere was charged at the congress which was jointly presided over by the state’s NLC chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, and his TUC counterpart, Kolawole Olumo, as leaders of the various affiliate unions who spoke at the meeting expressed displeasure over the delay in the implementation in the state.
After extensive deliberation at the congress, labour resolved that union leaders and all workers in the state should embark on fasting and prayers for God’s intervention.
In a communique issued at the end of the joint congress, the organised labour also debunked claim by the state commissioner of finance that the committee has concluded on the table for the new minimum wage in kwara state.
The communique was jointly signed by the state NLC chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, TUC chairman, Kolawole Nasir Olumoh, and chairman Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Saliu O Suleiman.
It reads: “The entire workers in Kwara state appreciated the unity/doggedness and resolute of the labour leaders and promised their full support to achieve our set goals.
“On the issue of minimum wage committee meeting, the labour representatives at the committee rejected the table by the government in totality and wish to inform the workers that its meeting ended in deadlock.
“The meeting resolved that the state government should be given 14-days ultimatum starting from 31st January,2020 for home to intervene and resolve all issues related to minimum wage.
“The labour movement in Kwara State wishes to debunk the submission of the commissioner of Finance on Sobi Fm that the committee has concluded on the table for the new minimum wage in kwara state.
“Workers in the state are implored to go on 3- days fasting and prayers for their demands on the minimum wage to be achieved starting on Wednesday 5 to 7 February 2020.
“In view of the above therefore, the labour movement should not be held responsible for any industrial action that may be deployed to press home our demands.”
