MINIMUM WAGE: BENUE NLC GIVES GOVT ONE-WEEK ULTIMATUM

By NBF News

MAKURDI-The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has given the Benue State government a one-week ultimatum within which to implement the N18,000 minimum wage or face an indefinite strike action. The ultimatum came a day after the congress suspended its three-day warning strike scheduled to commence Wednesday.

Chairman of the Benue State Chapter of the congress, Comrade Simon Anchaver during in an interview with Vanguard Wednesday asked government to pay the five months arrears of the new salary being owed workers in the state.

Anchaver explained that labour decided to momentarily suspend its intended action on the strength of the agreement reached with the government that all the workers would enjoy the new wage.

According to him, the technical committee was mandated to submit its recommendations within one week consequent upon which all workers in the state would be paid the new wage.

'Part of the agreement we reached with the government was that the arrears of the new salary being owed workers from April till date would also be paid.

''That is why we have directed workers to collect the August salaries with the expectation that all arrears will be paid in line with our agreement with the government.

'As a lawyer Governor Gabriel Suswan knows the implications of reneging on a statutory matter; and we believe strongly that he will respect the laws of the land,' Anchaver added, warning further that worker would have no alternative than to commence an indefinite strike action, if at the end of the one week ultimatum, the new wages were not paid with the arreas.

Anchaver also assured workers in the state that the leadership of labour would not shift grounds on the matter adding, 'we are on top of the situation and we will not sell out because the welfare of workers remains paramount in all our negotiations with government'.