Following the lack of the new minimum wage implementation in four states, there’s a likelihood of disharmony and disruptions by Labour.
Although the targeted commencement of strike is December 1, workers in Cross River have commenced a two-day warning strike.
There is also tension between Labour and governments in Katsina, Zamfara and Imo.
Already, 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
Last month, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume expressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s excitement over the way the states quickly started the implementation of the Act after the Federal Government began its implementation.
Labour yesterday insisted that beginning from Monday, workers in states where the new minimum wage is not being paid or there is no agreement on terms of payment, should proceed on strike.
Although N70,000 is the minimum wage, many states rose above the threshold. States such as Lagos and Rivers are paying N85,000.
Workers in Cross River State have commenced a two-day warning strike over the failure of the state government to come to an agreement with the state NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the minimum wage.
They warned that the warning strike would be followed by a total strike should the government fail to do the needful before the December 1 Labour deadline.
But Governor Bassey Otu appealed to them to shelve the industrial action and “support the government in its quest to improve the lot of our people”.
The governor said: “I appeal to the leadership of organised Labour and all affiliates of the NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) and TUC (Trade Union Congress) to suspend their planned strike.
“I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lots of our people.’’
State Chairman of the NLC Hussain Hamisu said that a strike notice would be served on the government if by the end of yesterday “there is no positive response” from the Dikko Radda administration.
“If by tomorrow (today) there is no positive indication from the state government, we shall declare an indefinite strike in compliance with the directive from the National Executive Council of the NLC at the last meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,” said Hamisu.
In Zamfara State, there was concern at the weekend that civil servants might heed the December 1 strike call by the NLC.
The worry arose following the decision of the government to first physically verify its workers before implementing the new wage structure.
Head of Service Ahmad Liman told reporters that even though records show that the state has over 34,000 workers, a number of ghost workers was not only uncovered, but some were due for retirement.
Liman announced that the government would constitute a wage committee to fashion out modalities and make recommendations to Governor Dauda Lawal.
But the NLC Chairman, Sani Halilu, who was present at the news conference, later issued a statement in which he called on the government to begin implementation of the new wage by the end of this month to avert the December 1 strike.
In Imo State where Governor Hope Uzodimma promised to implement the N70,000 wage, workers said at the weekend that they were anxiously waiting for the implementation.
The workers urged the government and the state NLC leadership to expedite the ongoing negotiations on the issue.
One of them, who gave his name simply as Ikenna, said: “We are in suspense but expecting a positive outcome. We hope the governor and Labour leaders will reach a mutually beneficial agreement soon.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Austin Chilakpu, said Uzodimma “needs every detail to conclude” on when to begin the implementation.
