The Joint Kwara Labour Congress has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government, expressing dissatisfaction over the alleged non-implementation of a previously agreed-upon gentlemanly agreement.
The ultimatum, effective from Tuesday, January 9, 2024, was announced during a press conference held in Ilorin.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state chairman, Comrade Muritala Saheed, voiced the concerns of the labor unions, stating that the state is facing economic, psychological, physical, and moral challenges.
Saheed lamented that despite previous written communications to the government highlighting workers’ demands and issues within the state, there has been no positive response or attempt to address the concerns raised.
Among the grievances listed by the NLC chairman were the non-implementation of the N35,000 Wage Award for all categories of workers in Kwara State following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Additionally, the refusal to domesticate and implement the 40 percent peculiar allowance approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria was cited.
Saheed also pointed out the non-payment of consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current New Minimum Wage in 2019, lack of willingness to settle outstanding arrears for local government workers and promotion arrears for 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Other issues raised included the non-implementation of 100 percent CONHESS and 100 percent Hazard Allowance for health workers at the local government level, inadequate funding of state-owned tertiary institutions, and the non-implementation of 100 percent CONPASS and CONTEDISS for workers in state-owned tertiary institutions.
The state government’s alleged lack of willingness to absorb and properly place Kwara Hotel Workers without any conditions and the proper placement of redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the service of Kwara Core Civil Service were also listed as reasons for the intended industrial action.
Saheed emphasized that the organized labour in Kwara State is disappointed by the government’s refusal to address these concerns and warned that failure to meet the demands within the stipulated 14-day ultimatum would result in industrial action.
“Dear Comrades, we are constrained to address this press conference having observed that our dear state is falling apart and the body language of our government does not suit the purpose of mending the cracks,” Saheed said.
“These cracks cut across formal and informal sectors of our state economically, psychologically, physically and morally.
“On several occasions both NLC and TUC of this dear 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 incommunicado.
“Most pathetic is the fact that Government of our dear state has refused to honour/implement all written and gentleman agreement it entered into with labour.”
He added: “Non-implementation of 100 per cent CONHESS and 100 per cent Hazard Allowance for health Workers at Local Government Level. Inadequate funding of our State owned Tertiary institutions. Non-implementation of 100 per cent CONPASS and CONTEDISS for our State owned Tertiary Institution Workers. Lack of willingness to absorb and proper placement of Kwara Hotel Workers without any condition.”
He further stressed “Proper placement of the redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the Service of Kwara Core Civil Service,” as reasons for the intended industrial action.