The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees has suspended its indefinite strike over nonpayment of staff salaries and use of casual workers by local government councils.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the 18 local government councils in Edo State embarked on indefinite strike on February 2 to protest nonpayment of staff salaries.
Young Ilenikhena, the NULGE chairman in the state, told NAN on Thursday in Benin that the strike was suspended due to pleas from Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Ilenikhena however warned that if the arrears of salaries were not paid by the end of March, the union would have no choice than proceed with the strike.
The Chief Press Secretary of Oredo Council, Edosa Okunbo, told NAN that the circular suspending the strike was received at the council on Thursday morning.
Okunbo described the suspension of the strike as “a welcome development” and expressed the hope that activities at the council would commence fully on Monday next week.
He however said the council owed its workers only January salary.
He added that if not for the strike the council would have paid the staff salaries, saying that the leadership of the council “does not joke with staff salaries”.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James, attributed the inability of local government councils to pay staff salaries to reduction in federal allocation to the state.
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