Joint Labour Congress in Kwara state has threatened to embark on industrial action if the state government fails to implement new minimum wage by December 31, 2019.
The Labour Congress, in a communiqué jointly signed by Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Ore and chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kolawole Olumoh, said that it could no longer guarantee industrial peace in the state should the state government failed to implement the new minimum wage by December 31, 2019.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has directed immediate constitution of a government panel to meet and discuss with the labour unions on the national minimum wage.
The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said, “The Head of Service has been directed to work out the modalities of the workings of the panel”
The Labour Congress, in the communiqué read by deputy chairman of NLC, Comrade Muritala Olayinka, said that some states had concluded negotiation process and had commenced payment, regretting that despite concerted efforts by the state labour leaders to ensure compliance on the deadline for implementation on the new minimum wage, Kwara was among the states that were yet to start negotiation.
“However, it is sad that Kwara state is among the few states that have refused to do anything till now despite the directive that all negotiation must be concluded on or before 31st December 2019.
“SEC in session deliberated extensively on the efforts of Labour leaders in the state to ensure that the government constitutes a negotiation team for implementation of N30,000 new minimum wages that proved abortive.
“SEC in session, therefore, resolved that if the government failed to implement the new minimum wage on or before December 31, 2019, labour leaders would not guarantee industrial harmony in the state”, the communique read.