Jigawa branch of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike following the state government?s failure to implement N70,000 approved minimum wage.

The NLC gave the directive in a circular issued jointly signed and sent to all Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliates in the state by the state chairmen of NLC and TUC, Comrade Sunusi Alhassan and Comrade Bashir Tijjani Abubakar.

The circular noted that; ?We want to call on all affiliates and organs in the state to start the process of mobilisation for full compliance with the directive if the state government fails to pay the new minimum wage by the last day of November 2024.

?We are pleased to inform you that, following series of negotiations and many adjustments, the organised labour in the state has, in principle, accepted all the proposed salary tables presented by the government for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in the state.

?This is part of the resolution of a joint State Executive Council Meeting of the NLC and the TUC held on Monday, 18th November 2024 at the Labour House, Dutse. The meeting also directed the leadership of the Organized Labour to proceed and sign necessary agreements with the Government to ensure immediate implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

?Even as we await the formal invitation to the agreement signing, we must remain conscious of the need to comply with the directive of the national secretariat of the NLC and the TUC for all State Councils where the N70,000 minimum wage has not been fully implemented to proceed on strike beginning from the 1st day of December 2024?.

?Following that directive, the leadership of the organised labour immediately informed the government of our readiness to sign the N70,000 minimum wage agreement whenever it is presented to us,? it said.

It will be recalled that Governor Malam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has on Friday 26 October announced his approval to pay N70,000 minimum wage to the state government workers few hours to get out of annual vacation overseas.

The governor?s approval was followed the recipient of a report by the state?s government committee on the new minimum wage for civil servants headed by the head of civil service of the state, Alhaji Muhammad Dagiteri.

Jigawa State Government has earlier set up a committee and the committee has deliberated and came up with advice to the state government where it found necessary to go like any other state to implement the new minimum wage.

During the governor?s pronouncement for his government approval to pay the N70,000 minimum wage kept quiet on the effecting period and the month to be implemented. (Nigerian Tribune)

Update news