Minimum wage: Akwa Ibom workers begin strike tomorrow

WORKERS in Akwa Ibom State yesterday vowed not to return to work tomorrow, if the government fails to address some grey areas in its salary structure table.

It was gathered that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have started mobilising workers for a strike, which beginning from tomorrow.

The unions have sent text messages to the workers.

The Nation received one of such messages, which read: “Happy New Year. Ignore government propaganda. Minimum wage/CONHESS/CONJUSS strike starts January 3. Forward SMS to your members. Aluta Continua.”

The unions had earlier given the government till December 31 to correct what it described as “the defective” minimum wage table in the interest of workers.”

In a communiqué by chairmen of the NLC and TUC, Unyime Usoro and Ifreke Akpan at the end of their meeting, the unions said they expect the government to address the upward review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS).

Also, labour said the government should implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), and Consolidated Polytechnic/College of Education Salary Structure (CONPCASS) on or before December 31.

They said if the government fails to meet their demands, workers would go on strike.

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said government is still negotiating with the unions.

Umanah said the state was the first to announce the payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage.

He added that what the workers were fighting for bothers on relativity as it affects the salary structure table and not minimum wage.

Umanah said: “Akwa Ibom State, as you may all recall, was the first to embrace the clamour for N18, 000 minimum wage.

“In all, the administration is committed to the welfare of workers .

“There is no cause for alarm because the government is labour’s friendly and it is still negotiating with labour.”