Labour urges Nasarawa State govt. to prioritise workers welfare

Organised Labour has called on Nasarawa State Government, to as a matter of urgency, prioritise the welfare of its workforce and their right to wage employment.

The General Secretaries of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Dr Peter Ozo-Eson and Mr Musa Lawal respectively, made the call in a joint letter addressed to Gov. Tanko Almakura.

The letter was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that civil servants in Nasarawa state had been on strike to protest unpaid salary.

The labour leaders noted that the issues that led to the strike could be resolved if the government prioritise the welfare and rights of its workers.

They urged the governor to take necessary step to resolve the impasse by meeting the basic demands of the workers.

They contended that the demands of the workers were by no stretch of the imagination extraneous to their fundamental rights as wage earning employees.

The letter said that any purported calling-off of the strike made to the governor was without the authority and mandate of the state workforce or organised labour.

The labour leaders directed the workers not to heed the purported suspension of the strike.

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“Suspension of the strike can only be heeded when an amicable resolution of the issues in contention for which the strike was called were addressed,’’ the letter said.

They called on the government eschew any attempt at divide and rule or intimidation and harassment of committed leaders of the labour movement.

“We urge the government to utilise transparent channels of communication and reach out to all leaders of organised labour in the state.

“We hope that the dire condition of workers of the state will touch your Excellency, to activate the machinery for a quick resolution,”organised labour said.

The labour leaders also said that they were open to dialogue with a view to resolving the impasse.