“Nasarawa Labour Issues Three-Week Ultimatum for N70,000 Minimum Wage and Backlog Payments”
Organised labour in Nasarawa State has issued a three-week ultimatum to Governor Abdullahi Sule, demanding the immediate implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage and the payment of a backlog of workers’ entitlements totaling approximately N250 million. This announcement was made by Ismaila Okoh, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Nasarawa State, during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital, on Thursday.
The ultimatum follows an emergency meeting between labour leaders and workers in the state, who have expressed frustration over the delay in implementing the new wage and settling outstanding payments. Okoh emphasized the critical nature of these demands, stating that civil servants in Nasarawa have made significant contributions to the state’s development and deserve timely compensation.
“We are giving the Nasarawa State government until the end of August to start paying the new national minimum wage and other entitlements of workers in the state in order to avert an indefinite strike,” Okoh declared. He warned that if the demands are not met, it could lead to a statewide strike, which might disrupt essential services and impact daily life for residents.
In response to the ultimatum, Abigail Waya, the Head of Civil Service in Nasarawa State, acknowledged that the government has not yet finalized plans for the implementation of the new minimum wage. However, she reassured workers that the state government is committed to improving their welfare and is working towards addressing the issues raised.
The labour unions’ demands reflect broader concerns about fair compensation and the need for the state government to meet its financial obligations to its employees. The outcome of this situation will be closely watched, as it has implications for labor relations and public services in Nasarawa State.