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Organised labour in Nasarawa State has declared an indefinite strike over the state government’s decision to cut workers’ salaries by 50 percent.
The state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura had already declared there was no going back on his administration’s decision to cut down salaries of its workers.
Comrade Abdullahi Adeka, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman and Danladi Namo, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, announced the commencement of the industrial action on Friday while addressing journalists at the Labour House in Lafia.
Adeka explained that the indefinite strike was as a result of the state government’s refusal to reverse its decision to cut their salaries by 50 percent.
His words:
“We staged a peaceful protest to the government house on Monday 4, where we made it clear that if by the government did not reverse its decision to cut our salaries would embark on strike.
“We told the Deputy Governor, Mr. Silas Agara who came and received our petition on behalf of the Governor that at the close of work on Monday, government must reverse the workers unfriendly decision or face strike.
“Since the government remains adamant, the unions would use its only weapon which is strike to press home its demands until the government return and maintain the status-quo”
Also reacting on the matter, the TUC Chairman explained that government in its usual characteristics has resorted to intimidating workers especially Permanent Secretaries and Directors.
He assured all categories of workers in the payroll of the government of the state to continue to remain at home until they receive further directive form the union.
He thanked all the workers across the state for their usual corporation and promised them that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.