The Joint Kwara Labour Congress has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government over the alleged refusal to honour and implement a written gentlemanly agreement between them.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state chairman, Comrade Muritala Saheed, hinted that the ultimatum to the state government was effective from Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Other labour leaders at the event included the state chairman of the TUC, Comrade Tunde Joseph and the state chairman of the JNC, Comrade Saliu Suleiman, among others.

“Dear Comrades, we are constrained to address this press conference having observed that our dear state is falling apart and the body language of our government does not suit the purpose of mending the cracks,” Saheed said.

“These cracks cut across formal and informal sectors of our state economically, psychologically, physically and morally.

“On several occasions both NLC and TUC of this dear state have written government on demands of workers and observed ills in our state. Unfortunately there was no change or attempt to address issues raised in our letters.

“As we speak today, all industrial Unions in the State have one demand or another that requires government attention, this is not forthcoming as the government has remained incommunicado.

“Most pathetic is the fact that Government of our dear state has refused to honour/implement all written and gentleman agreement it entered into with labour.”

He however listed them to include: Non-implementation of N35,000 Wage Award for all categories of Workers in Kwara State following fuel subsidy removal and refusal to domesticate and implement 40 per cent peculiar allowance as approved and provided for by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to him, “Non-payment of Consequential adjustment to pensioners since the approval of the current New Minimum Wage in 2019; lack of willingness to pay Local Government Workers Outstanding Arrears and outstanding Arrears of promotion for 2020, 2021 and 2022,” he stated.

He added: “Non-implementation of 100 per cent CONHESS and 100 per cent Hazard Allowance for health Workers at Local Government Level. Inadequate funding of our State owned Tertiary institutions. Non-implementation of 100 per cent CONPASS and CONTEDISS for our State owned Tertiary Institution Workers. Lack of willingness to absorb and proper placement of Kwara Hotel Workers without any condition.”

He further stressed “Proper placement of the redeployed Kwara Water Corporation Staff into the Service of Kwara Core Civil Service,” as reasons for the intended industrial action.

He however noted that the Organized Labour in Kwara State was irked by the refusal of the state government to heed to its demands. (The Guardian)

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