The Ebonyi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a seven-day warning strike starting December 1, 2024.
This action comes in response to the state government's failure to implement the new National minimum wage, despite previous commitments.
Aguguo Egwu, the Chairman of the NLC in Ebonyi, announced the strike during a press briefing in Abakaliki. He stated, "This is in line with the directive of 8th November 2024 by our national body to all State Councils yet to comply with extant procedures based on collective bargaining and eventual implementation of the New National Minimum Wage."
The controversy began when the state government, through the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government, inaugurated a Minimum Wage Implementation Committee on October 2, 2024. However, progress stalled, leading to frustration among workers.
The situation escalated when the governor unilaterally announced a wage award during a church service on October 27, 2024, offering NGN75,000 to grade levels 1 and 2, and NGN40,000 across board for Grade levels 3-16.
This announcement bypassed traditional negotiation processes, prompting criticism from the NLC. Egwu highlighted the lack of consultation, stating, "The pronouncement made was not a product of any collective bargaining agreement as we were never part of any consultation that led to the said pronouncement."
He further criticized the current salary structure, which he claims "did not undergo any consequential adjustment and has consistently malnourished the take-home pay of workers."
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