Organized Labour in Plateau State, comprising of over 41 associations and including the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Council of Nigeria, has vowed to withdraw the services of its members should the government of Governor Jonah Jang fail to address some contending issues affecting workers in the state.
At a press conference in Jos, the state Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jibril Bancir, described as disturbing a situation where government signs an agreement with labour on the issues of six months salary arrears and up till now is yet to open discussion on the issue with the organized labour after failing to implement it.
Bancir said: “The Organized labour has kept faith with history knowing fully well that the collective bargaining approach machinery embarked upon by the union has never yielded any positive result hence these gestures are always met with resistance from the state government.
“You will recall that in september 2014, we also intimated you with some pressing issues as it affects workers on the Plateau. It is sad to note that despite all efforts and persistent pressure made and mounted by the organized labour, the state government has not done anything tangible to address and resolve the contentious issues.”
Bancir said labour is however compelled to renew its efforts to tackle the problems headlong, stressing that the continued delay and indiscriminate payment of salary and pension to workers and retirees by the state government is unacceptable.
Noting that the state government is currently owing civil servants three months salary since october 2014 and pensioners have not been paid their entitlements by the state government.
He said organized labour is deeply disturbed that till now, the state government has not commenced full implementation of the minimum wage to local government employees in the state and called on the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to put the necessary machinery in place for urgent discussion.
The Organized Labour is also raising an eyebrow over the non-remittance on National Housing Fund deductions to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria by the state government.
It warned that the Union will have no alternative than to ask its members to discontinue with the scheme if government fails to remit the money.
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