Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State has said the proposed strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the new minimum wage will not hold on Nov. 6th.
Chief of Staff to Governor Bello, Chief Edward Onoja stated this as labor unions protested at the Government House, Lokoja.
Onoja urged the workers and unions to exercise patience as the government was working on the review of the new proposed minimum wage.
Onoja commended the workers for their orderly disposition, promising to convey their message to the appropriate quarters.
Onoja said, “The state government has concluded plans to pay three months salary arrears to workers and pensioners in the state while their colleagues in the state tertiary institutions would be paid four months.
“The workers should be assured that the payment, expected to commence from this week, followed the receipt of the Paris Club refund.
“Also the threat by Organised Labour to shut down the entire system in the country on Nov. 6th would not happen as efforts were being intensified by governments at all levels to reach an amicable settlement on the matter.”
Meanwhile, Onu Edoka, the Chairman, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) alleged that the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, was frustrating the good intention of the Buhari-led administration by trying to subvert the agitations for a new minimum wage.
He said Ngige’s intrigues and antics were not encouraging, insisting that N30,000 was nothing compared to what some top government officials spent monthly on feeding their dogs.
Edoka urged the president to ensure that his 2015 electioneering campaign promise on minimum wage was realized.
source:toptipz.com.ng
