Organized labour has asked the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to pay the workers in the state their accumulated seven month salaries within 30 days or face a strike action.
Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bobboi Kaigama, issued the ultimatum at a rally organized by their respective state chapters on Wednesday at the NLC office in Lokoja.
Wabba told the workers that no reasonable government would owe salaries for seven months even as he emphasized that labour would go on strike if the governor refuses 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 called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no arm of government under his watch would mismanage public funds.
The TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, also said that the union would not allow impunity against any worker in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Austin Etabor, he urged the workers to be united as one indivisible force, keeping their hope alive by defending their rights. [myad]
