MINIMUM WAGE: OGUN WORKERS TO EMBARK ON TWO DAYS WARNING STRIKE
The leadership explained that the directive was premised on the State Government deliberate ignoring its letters and various calls for the constitution of the negotiation committee, that will look into the matter.
The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) Chairman, Emmanuel Bankole read the position of the organized labour in a press release jointly signed by Comrade Fajobi Olubunmi, (TUC Chairman); Comrade Folorunsho Olanrewaju, (JNC State Chairman), and Comrade Adebiyi Olusegun, (Coordinating Secretary).
Penpushing further reports that, Bankole declared that it has become imperative for its members to embark on the warning strike having exhibited maturity of perseverance and respect to the rule of law, adding, “It has come to the turn of the state to comply with the new national minimum wage by simply setting up the negotiation committee that will address itself particularly to determining the consequentially adjustment of the newly signed wage law.
“It is distressing to note that the Ogun State government has elected to deliberately ignore our letters and various calls for the constitution of the negotiation committee. It will interest the general public to note that neither acknowledgement nor invitation was received from the state government. Rather, we were treated with menus of deceits and apparent misinformation’.
“Statements in the media credited to the Secretary to the State Government and Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor has factored the new minimum wage into the state 2020 Appropriation Bill and that the state government is already in talk with the organised labour respectively contravenes the principle of collective bargaining for there was never consultation with the organised labour prior to the wage projection in the said budget whilst the last quote is false and misleading’.
“We view this claim and comment as reflective of the stand of the state government on the issue and thus infer that the government is clearly unwilling to implement the new minimum wage in the state, let alone negotiate its consequential adjustment’.
“In view of the directive of the federal government that negotiations must have been concluded by December 31st, 2019 across the federation, the foot dragging of the Ogun State government and having exhausted laid down procedures’.
“We therefore direct workers in the state and local governments, civil and public servants to proceed on two days warning strike starting from Thursday 19th and Friday, 20th December, 2019 to press hone our demand.”
