Civil servants in Katsina State have threatened strike by December 1 over non-implementation of minimum wage.
The NLC has threatened that if no positive response is received, it will obey the directive from its national body to begin strike.
The NLC Chairman in Katsina State, Comrade Hussain Hamisu, has accused the state government of foot dragging in negotiations regarding the payment of arrears for the new minimum wage.
He said the extension of the payment to retirees remains uncertain, despite the completion of work by the state’s implementation committee.
Hamisu said: ’’The ongoing committee work on the implementation of the new minimum wage, inaugurated by the state government, has ended following the expiration of their deadline.’
‘’Retirees payment must equally be considered during negotiations, considering the fact that there was a circular on their benefits and entitlements at the time of their retirements’’
‘’If by tomorrow Monday there were no positive indication from the state government, we shall declare indefinite strike in compliance with the directive from the National Executive Council of the NLC at the last meeting in Port Harcourt
The state government recently inaugurated a committee Katsina State Government took a step towards implementing the N70,0000 national minimum wage when it inaugurated a 15-member committee to advise it on strategies and modalities for its implementation.
The Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Farouk Lawal Jobe, has inaugurated a committee to develop strategies and modalities for implementing the new minimum wage, including consequential adjustments for workers at both the state and local government levels.
The committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari, has been given a 21-day deadline to complete its assignment and submit its report.
The NLC President Joe Ajaero at a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital said workers in any state not paying the new minimum wage of N70,000 should from December 1 embark on strike.
