Organized labour in Nasarawa State has issued a three-week ultimatum to Governor Abdullahi Sule to initiate the payment of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.
The labour unions have also demanded the settlement of a backlog of workers’ entitlements totaling N250 million.
According to The PUNCH, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Nasarawa State, Ismaila Okoh, made the announcement during a press briefing in Lafia on Thursday, following an emergency meeting with state workers.
Okoh stressed that if the state government does not begin payments by the end of August, workers will be forced to go on an indefinite strike.
“We are giving the Nasarawa State government until the end of August to start paying the new national minimum wage and other entitlements of workers in the state in order to avert an indefinite strike,” Okoh warned.
He emphasized that “civil servants in the state have made enormous sacrifices for the development of the state, so it is important for the state government to act fast in improving the welfare of workers.”
In response, the state Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, indicated that the government has yet to finalize plans for implementing the new minimum wage.
However, she reassured workers of the administration’s commitment to enhancing their welfare.
The atmosphere within Nasarawa State’s civil service has been tense, marked by unease and uncertainty.
This follows repeated assurances from the state government about their readiness to commence payment of the new national minimum wage, yet without concrete action so far.
