Kwara State: Labour Issues 14 days ultimatum To Address Unmet Demands

A 14-day ultimatum has been given to the Kwara State Government, North Central Nigeria, to address the demands of workers in the state employment for improved working condition.

The Joint Kwara Labour Congress which made the position of workers known warned that it could not guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the event that the state government failed to honour and implement series of agreements it entered into with the labour.

The State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Muritala Olayinka, disclosed this at a media briefing alongside his counterparts in Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Tunde Joseph and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Comrade Saliu Suleiman, in Ilorin.

The Union leaders observed that the government has remained incommunicado on the issues raised on the welfare of members of the state workforce.

Olayinka listed some of the grievances of workers as non-implementation of N35,000 wage award for all categories of workers in the state following fuel subsidy removal, refusal to domesticate and implement 40 percent peculiar allowance in line with the approval of the Nigerian government, non-implementation of consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current new minimum wage in 2019, unwillingness to pay local government workers outstanding arrears and non-implementation of 100% Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and 100% hazard allowance for health workers at local government level.

Others include outstanding arrears of promotion for 2020, 2021 and 2022, inadequate funding of our state-owned tertiary institutions, unwillingness to absorb and proper placement of Kwara Hotel workers without any condition and proper placement of the redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the core civil service.

The NLC Chairman said “the labour movement had communicated the state government on the demands of workers devoid of any attempt to address the issues leading to the current agitation.”

According to him, the workers are constrained to address this press conference, having observed that Kwara State is falling apart and the body language of the government does not suit the purpose of mending the cracks.

The cracks, Olayinka said cut across both formal and informal sector of the State economically, psychologically, physically and morally.

He said; “On several occasions, both Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of this State have written government on demands of Workers and observed ills in our State.

“Unfortunately, there was no change or attempt to address issues raised in our letters. As we speak today, all industrial Unions in the State have one demand or another that requires government attention. This is not forthcoming as the government has remained invisible/incommunicado.

“Most pathetic is the fact that Government of our dear state has refused to honour/implement all written and gentleman agreements it entered into with labour.”

“The Organised Labour in Kwara State is constrained, given the blatant refusal of the State Government to heed to these demands by Workers of Kwara State. This raised fear for industrial peace and harmony.

“In view of the above, Congress of Kwara Workers has reviewed unpalatable disposition of Government towards Kwara Workers. Therefore, we give Kwara State Government 14 Days ultimatum effective from 9th January 2024 to address all issues raised and communicated before now,” Olayinka said.

Also speaking, the state TUC Chairman, Tunde Joseph cautioned that the labour movement is unsure of industrial peace and harmony if the state government failed to meet the demands of workers.

Mercy Chukwudiebere