Rabiu Omaku
In spite of the passionate appealed by the Government of Nasarawa on the organized labour to call-off the ongoing total strike state-wide, Comrade Abdullahi Adeka, The chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress has disclosed that the total strike embarked by organized labour is yet to be resolved, The chairman gave the indication while reacting on a press briefing held by the head of service, Joseph Ancho yesterday.
Adeka said the five days meeting ended in a deadlock as the union insisted that promotion must be followed with financial benefit which is contrary to the position of the state Government that hinted that they will implement promotion but will be followed with benefit if the economy improves.
“The committee lacks the willpower to call-off the ongoing total strike ,They has no mandate to addresse the lingering and unabated strike embarked by civil servants in the state”, He added that is only the Governor that has the mandate to tackle situation”.
The organized labour also insisted that the state Government should as matter of importance reviewed pension upward, He affirmed only 13.5% of pension was paid to pensioners, Stating that the law specified that there should be upward review in every five (5) years or in case of an increase in salary.
Reacting on the committee set-up on the 500 housing units which Government is ready to constitute ,Opined that the state Government should include Labour leaders in the committee, Saying the inclusion would ensure transparency .
The Nigeria Labour Congress also resolved that the outcome of the screening exercise embarked by Skye bank should be release with immediate effect, saying the report of the screening exercise was yet to be submitted officially.
On the autonomy of Judiciary, He hinted that the autonomy was not implemented to the latter,”
Reacting on the autonomy of tertiary institutions in the state, the organized labour said the Governing councils of the various institutions should liaise with the state Government.
Adeka expressed dissatisfaction over the meagre resource accrued to gratuity of retirees; He averred that N180m was needed as against the N20m presently given to retirees in the name of gratuity.
It would be recalled that the head of service, Joseph Ancho on behalf of the state Government called on the NLC to called-off the strike for the interest of the state,
“Concerned by the adverse effects the strike action would have on citizens of Nasarawa State in general and civil servants and their families in particular, Government took proactive measures by inviting and holding series of meetings with the leadership of Organised Labour aimed at resolving the issues at stake”.
the public is aware that civil servants in Nasarawa State, under the aegis of Organised Labour, embarked on an indefinite state-wide industrial action since Friday, 29th January, 2016,The strike action was predicated on a 21-point demand on Government by the Labour Unions covering a wide range of issues as follows:
Immediate release of salary vouchers for the month of January, 2016 and payment of the salary to workers;
All promotions from 2011 to date be implemented, promotions yet to be processed be processed and implemented;
Immediate payment of four (4) months arrears on the implementation of the N18, 900.00 National minimum wages;
Full implementation of annual increments from 2011 to date;
Payment of pension and gratuities and all other issues related to payment of pension;
Implementation of all professional allowances and the accrued arrears to all deserving workers;
Payment of in-service allowances;
Release of claims of beneficiaries of the 500-unit housing estate, along Doma Road, Lafia
Payment of leave/transport grant;
Implementation of corrected CONMESS for doctors;
Release of report of the Bio-metric/data capture in both State and Local Government.
65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff of tertiary institutions in the State;
Autonomy to the 3 state tertiary institutions;
Accreditation of all programmes in tertiary institutions in the state;
Implementation of minimum wage in tertiary institutions;
Subvention to all tertiary institutions in the state;
Review of high tax deduction in health sectors and tertiary institutions in the state;
Full Judicial Autonomy;
Stoppage of screening exercise in the Local Government;
Stoppage of percentage payment in the Local Government;
Centralisation of all union dues deduction in the Local Government Councils.
The head of service faulted the organized labour for been adamant in the course of negotiation with Government; Saying Government has made far-reaching concessions on the 21-point demands made by Labour.
“Unfortunately, however, the Labour side was adamant in their refusal to reciprocate concessions made by Government in the spirit of collective bargaining, for the avoidance of doubt, this administration has been
