In its New Year message, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in the seven states to proceed on strike over non-implementation of minimum wage.
The states are Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Cross River, Abia and Imo.
NLC also insists that workers and the masses would not accept any further increment in the pump price of fuel in the guise of subsidy removal.
It urged workers and the citizens to prepare for total war against any hike.
President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said that the directive to commence indefinite strike in the affected states was in line with the decision of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“We have asked our state councils to commence industrial actions against state governments that are yet to implement the new national minimum wage and pension.
“It is disheartening that amidst the current economic crunch prevalent in the country, some state governors still need persuasion to pay workers the national minimum wage.”
“Nigerians would recall that the national minimum wage was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2019. Since then, the implementation of the national minimum wage has been a tale of mixed fortunes across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. While some states are in compliance, others are not.
“While most of the states in the Northwest geopolitical zone have started implementing the new national minimum wage, there is an exception in the case of Zamfara State which has refused to pay the national minimum wage and consequential salary adjustment to workers in the state.
“`In the Northeast, the exception is Taraba State,which is yet to fully implement the new national minimum wage. In the North-central, there are still challenges of full implementation in Benue and Kogi states.
“In the Southwest, most of the states are already in compliance. In the South-south, the weak link is Cross River State, which has spurned all negotiation agreements and entreaties to pay workers in the state the new national minimum wage and consequential salary adjustment.
“In the Southeast, the Imo and Abia State governments remain thorns in the flesh of workers. Apart from refusing to fully implement the national minimum wage and consequential salary increase, the state governments have also been promoting clandestine and rogue labour leaders unknown to the labour movement.”
