Loveth Okoli
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, has reassured the state of its commitment to peace during the five days warning strike which has paralysed electricity supply.
The Council Chairman, Mr Ayuba Sumieman, gave the assurance in a statement issued in Kaduna.
Suleiman also urged the general public to remain calm and peaceful throughout the five days warning strike period and drew the attention of public to the alleged planned mobilization of thugs by the State Government to discredit our peaceful protest slated to begin today, Monday, May 17, 2021.
“Hence, we advocate that the people of Kaduna State should be vigilant and stand against this plan.
“Earlier, we were misled to commend the State Government for being the first to implement N30, 000 minimum wage to both Civil Servants and the retirees.
“But however, we noted with dismay that the government reverted to old minimum wage of N18, 000 in the month of April, Salary in the Local government council, about 20, 000 State civil servants received half Salary which is even less than the former N18, 000 minimum wage.
He explained that health workers were denied almost all their allowances such as hazard, call duty, shifting, rural posting.
“It’s disheartening to say that Kaduna State Government on the bases of their claim that it had paid up to N14 Billion as arrears of death benefit and gratuity from 2017 but the fact is that same government disengaged over 35, 000 civil servants in 2017 and up to date over 80 percent have not received their retirement benefits.
“It’s sad for Kaduna State Government to claim its commitment to training of workers while those that are qualified for promotion remain stagnate for years.
He said, on claims by the government supporting civil servants to pay for houses through mortgages on a single digits interest, this claim is false.
The reality of this, was that this mortgages was gotten by the joint effort of NLC and TUC.
He added that ,the State Government in its Ignorance failed to realize the obvious fact that payments of salaries have multiplying effects on the social- welfare and economy. In other words, when salaries are paid it reflect down the line.
“The unfortunate downsizing of work force in Kaduna State was not done in accordance with the statutory Labour law, with keen examination of it’s activities from 2017 till date, over 50,000 00 workers were affected.
He said it’s in the public domain that over 21,000 00 Teachers were sacked, 5,000 Local Government workers were equally disengaged in 2017, while another 12,000 State civil servants were also unfairly disengaged and the recent sacking of over 7, 000 workers of local government in the month of April, these lay credence to the figure given by the NLC.
Suleiman said that the claim by the State Government to promote the right of the Children of the poor to decent education, is contradictory to the recent increase in tuition fees in the State owned institutions to the tune of more than 300 percent increase.
“The warrant of arrest on the National President of NLC Comrade Ayuba Waba as claimed by Kaduna State Government is an unwarranted intimidation on Labour movement,” he said .
“This is considered as a violation of human right act. The National President’s involvement in this action is intended to protect the interest of Kaduna State workers.
He said the claim by Kaduna State Government that NLC recruited hoodlums to cause mayhem during the strike is untrue because it is not in the character of Labour to indulge in such uncivilized manner as against the nature of politicians.
“All the affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress are fully committed to participate in the strike action without compulsion,” Sulieman said .
