Minimum Wage: Nasarawa Workers Draw Battleline With Gov Sule

By Isaac Joel-Lafia

Workers in Nasarawa State have threatened to down tools, unless the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage commences without delay.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Yusuf Iya and his Trade Unions counterpart, Comrade Mohammed Doma, gave the hint, at a one day workshop for Civil Servants in Lafia.
The two leaders who accused the State Government of foot dragging over the implementation of the new minimum wage, lamented the continued suffering if workers in Nasarawa State in the face of rising cost of living on the meagre wages paid to them.
Speaking in separate remarks at the seminar, which seeks to look into workers welfare, they duo averred that, the pay being collected by workers in Nasarawa State is too meagre and not reflective of the current trends in the economy.
Comrade Yusuf Iya in his remarks noted that, Nasarawa Workers have run out if patience and are prepared to take on the Government, which has failed to effect the consequential adjustment of their pay to reflect the approved National minimum wage.
He noted that, workers on grade levels 7 and above, have been patient long enough, in the hope that the adjustment will be effected, but have been disappointed with the Government, which have been making promises but often fail to match words with action.
Iya said the organized labour can no longer guarantee industrial harmony NY in the state in the face of the persistent failure to effect the new national minimum wage.
Comrade Mohammed Doma, while corroborating the NLC chairman warned that the Nasarawa State Government should be prepared to face an indefinite strike in the face of the continued delay in paying workers their rightful entitlements.
While telling the Government to braze up for what may come with such a strike, Comrade Doma commended Nasarawa State workers for their preserverance and good conducts in their various work places even with the meager pay they collect.