The organised labour in Abia State has demanded immediate action from Governor Alex Otti regarding the full payment of the N30,000 national minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award, which were approved by the federal government.
The labour unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum for the state to comply.
In a letter addressed to Governor Otti, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abia State stated that implementing the agreed-upon wages is urgent.
They noted that these payments were approved eight months ago by the federal government, and a committee was established to create a salary structure based on the N30,000 minimum wage, which the state government has yet to act on.
The letter, signed by key officials including Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro and Comrade Emma Alozie (NLC Chairman and Secretary), Comrade Eneogwe Ihechi and Comrade George Okogbue (TUC Chairman and Secretary), and Comrade Innocent Ekwenye and Comrade Oby Maduako (Joint Negotiating Council Chairman and Secretary), highlighted the grievances of the workers.
Citing a directive from a national labour meeting in Abuja on May 20, 2024, the labour leaders explained that they were instructed to issue ultimatums to state governments that had not implemented the minimum wage and palliative wage awards.
The directive was intended to ensure compliance across all states.
“The organised labour in Abia State met on Wednesday and expressed profound disappointment over the non-implementation of the minimum wage and palliative award,” the letter stated.
They also mentioned that the state government had failed to engage in further discussions on the minimum wage despite multiple attempts by the labour unions.
“From 2019 to date, the Abia state government has not fully implemented the national minimum wage as agreed upon by the organised labour, government, and employers in the private sector and gazetted by the federal government,” they wrote.
“The non-implementation of the N35,000 palliative wage award, eight months after its announcement, is disheartening and has dampened the morale of workers in the state.”
The labour leaders called on Governor Otti to take quick action to begin the full implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative award within the 14-day period, as directed by the joint NEC meeting of the NLC and TUC.
