Presidents of the Nigeria
Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued an ultimatum at a
rally organised by their respective state chapters at the NLC office in Lokoja.
The organised labour workforce
on Wednesday gave the Kogi State Government a 30-day ultimatum to pay the
seven-month salary owed workers or face a strike action.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC
National President, told the workers that no reasonable government would owe
salaries for seven months.
He said labour would go on
strike if the governor refused to address lingering issues and stop the usage
of two banks for workers to access their “fundamental human rights”.
The NLC president hailed
the workers for their determination to press home their demands despite
intimidation from the state government and its apparatus.
“Let me salute you for your
courage and determination to pay the ultimate price for your fundamental human
rights in the face of threat and intimidation.
“All over the world, nobody
gets his right while sitting down and watching without taking any drastic
action; there is price for liberty everywhere in the world which is vigilance.
“We have heard about your
predicaments and we thought we cannot have the comfort of sitting in Abuja
without coming to see and confirm the report we received.
“With our collective
strength and unity, we shall surely overcome these predicaments caused by our
leaders,” he said.
He called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no arm of government under his watch would
mismanage public funds.
The TUC President, Mr
Bobboi Kaigama, the union would not allow impunity against any worker in the
state.
Represented by his deputy,
Mr Austin Etabor, he urged the workers to be united as one indivisible force,
keeping their hope alive by defending their rights.
The labour leaders urged
the media in the state to avoid any form of bias reportage.
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