EBONYI State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the state workers involved in the ongoing industrial strike over the new minimum wage.
Nwifuru said this on Monday, December 2, in Abakiliki, the state capital, while responding to the one-week strike declared by the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Oguguo Egwu.
While announcing the strike on Sunday, Egwu said it was in line with the NLC’s national leadership directive of November 8 for states that haven’t implemented the new wage.
Nwifuru, who frowned at the development, said the National Assembly didn’t pass a bill for a salary increment but a minimum wage for workers. He added that the bill did not state the maximum payable to workers.
He warned that the state would not fold its hands and allow personal interest to override public interest.
He expressed surprise that the workers proceeded on strike after he started paying the new minimum wage in October.
He also stated that he did not owe any worker in the state any salary, pension, or gratuity.
“And if you do not go to work and choose to stay at home in the name of strike, I will replace you within 72 hours. So I’m giving you 72 hours to return to duty, or I will sack you.
“I have directed that attendance registers be open at every ministry and government office, and we are going to monitor attendance,” Nwifuru vowed.
He added that he expected every worker who came to work to sign and would pay those who came to work using the register.
He stated that he wouldn’t negotiate on the issue, explaining that the state NLC leader, Egwu, wasn’t his employee.
Additionally, it was reported that some workers in the state, including those from primary and secondary schools, refused to participate in the strike.
Workers in Ebonyi are not the only ones participating in strike declared by the national body of the NLC over some state government’s failure to implement the new minimum wage.
The ICIR reported that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the NLC ordered workers across the city’s six area councils to embark on an indefinite strike from December 1, 2024.
The directive was issued by the FCT NLC chairman, Knabanyi Adalo, in a statement released on Saturday, November 30.
The strike was in response to the refusal of area council chairpersons to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage and settle other outstanding entitlements.
Labour unions had threatened to embark on a strike starting November 30, citing the failure of the FCT Administration to engage with union representatives or address wage concerns since the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike’s, inauguration in August 2023.
Following the threat, the minister approved the minimum wage payment for the FCTA workers.
In a statement issued by Anthony Odeh, the acting head of the FCTA civil service, Wike not only approved the wage increase, he also authorised the payment of three months’ arrears, effective November 2024.
However, Adalo, who announced the strike for the area councils, said the strike aligned with a communique issued by the NLC national body.
The NLC FCT council cited unresolved issues, including unpaid arrears owed to primary school teachers and other entitlements.
According to him, the area council chairpersons had refused to respond to the demand for implementation of the minimum wage in their respective area councils.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Monday, July 29, signed the National Minimum Wage Act 2024 Amendment Bill into law, approving a minimum wage for civil servants from N30,000 to N70,000.
A reporter with the ICIR
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