From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Organised labour in Kebbi State has declared their intention to embark on industrial actions if the State Government does not fulfil its agreements on the implementation of the consequential adjustment on the minimum wage, and nonpayment of the balance of gratuity to retirees up to September 2018.
Kebbi Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Umar Alhassan Halidu stated this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
The labour leader explained that the union and the State Government had signed an agreement over unpaid workers’ benefits in February, complaining that only a little effort had been made in the payment of leave grant and gratuity to workers and retirees, respectively.
According to him, ‘it is unimaginable for parties to agree on certain issues dully signed by both and now remains a mirage. These issues are non-payment of the balance of gratuity to retirees up to September 2018.
‘Non-payment of gratuity to retirees from October 2018 to date. Non-remittance of teachers’ deductions of pension contributions to their respective Pension Funds Administrators (PFAs) for over five years.
‘Non-payment of 2019 leave grant to workers on Grade Level 07 and above, and non-payment of 2020 leave grant to all categories of workers in the state. Lastly, non-implementation of annual increment.’
He also noted that the government deliberately frustrated the union from reaching a conclusion with the committee on consequential adjustment on the new national minimum wage.
‘This situation is inconclusive and the civil servants are now left in limbo,’ he said.
The Chairman appealed to the State Government to implement the initial agreements before January 2021, when the NLC would embark on industrial actions.