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ABIA UNPAID SALARIES: Why organised labour shelved strike
The organised labour in Abia State has announced that it has shelved its planned industrial action in the state over the failure of the state government to pay arrears of workers’ salaries and pensions.
Leadership of the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), explained that they postponed the strike indefinitely to allow the committee set up by the government complete its work.
The unions had on August 8 issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to address the issue of unpaid arrears of workers’ salaries and pensions in the state. They also threatened to embark on a warning strike at the expiration of the ultimatum on Friday.
Subsequently, the state government set up a seven-member committee headed by the Head of Service, Onyii Wamah, “to articulate and come out with modalities on how to clear the outstanding arrears.”
In a statement jointly signed by Uchenna Obigwe, Chris Okoro and Sunny Onwuma, the Chairmen of NLC, TUC and JNC, respectively, labour resolved to postpone the warning strike.
READ ALSO: N2.8bn needed to offset Kogi workers’ salary arrears —NLC
Speaking with newsmen, Obigwe said that labour would rather allow the committee to complete its work, adding that the implementation of the anticipated report would guide labour on what next to do.
The statement read, “That the organised labour in Abia met with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in respect of the ultimatum.
“That contrary to the unsubstantiated rumour, the Abia government affirmed that it had not received any new tranche of the Paris Club refund.
“That the handling of the outcome of the report of the committee will determine labour’s next line of action.”
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