Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC , has served a notice of intention to stage what it described as ” mother of all strikes” in Abia State over alleged government’s refusal to offset arrears of workers’ salaries and pension retirement benefits.
Towards this end, the Congress has given a 14-day ultimatum to government to address all the industrial infractions against worker’s, failure which, it would embark on a long drawn protest in the State.
In a letter dated 13th February,2023,signed by the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero and forwarded to the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, a copy of which was made available to Daily Champion weekend, the Congress also warned government to stop victimization of worker’s and trade unions in the State.
The letter read: ” Pursuant to the declaration of a trade dispute with the Abia State Government, we write to notify the Abia State Government that workers in Abia State will withdraw their services and cooperation with the Abia State Government until the following arrears of unpaid salaries and pension benefits of Abia State workers and pensioners, respectively are fully upset..
They include, among others, Unpaid Pension–August–December 2014 (5 months); Unpaid Pension–January–December 2018 (12 months); Arrears of Unpaid Gratuity–21 years (2001–2022);Non-implementation of Harmonized percentage increases in Pension Benefits;Non Implementation of Minimum Pension.
Others include unpaid salaries and allowances owed Abia State workers in different State Government ministeries, departments, agencies , schools and local governments,among others.
Local Government Employees—3 months;Staff of ABSUTH–23 month’s salary arrears; Secondary School Teachers–11 months of salary arrears ; Pensioners in Abia State–30 months pension benefits; Workers in Abia State Polytechnic–30 months salary arrears and Workers in Abia State College of Education –29 months salary.
” Furthermore,the approval of CONHESS is yet to be implemented in Abia State since May 2021 till date.It is on record that the NBTE withdrew the accreditation of the Abia State Polytechnic recently..
” The list of infractions against worker’s in Abia State goes on and on.N30,000 minimum national minimum wage is yet to be implemented in Abia State despite the State being an oil producing State with additional revenue from the national coffers”,it further stated
