Abia workers issue fresh warning on indefinite strike

The Organised Labour, Abia State chapter on Sunday warned the state government that failure to adhere to and implement the Memorandum of Understanding reached at the meeting by July 28, 2024, “no other notice will be given to the government than to proceed on an indefinite strike.”

The union has once threatened to go on strike on Monday, June 8, 2024, due to the state government’s inability to dialogue with the union over the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award as approved by the Federal Government since October 2023.

Following the ultimatum, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti met with members of the organised labour in the state with a directive to the state Accountant-General to liaise with the union on their demands, among other issues.

The state’s NLC Chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, had alleged that the state government is currently paying N20,100 while workers in the Local Governments receive N18,000 as minimum wage.

However, the governor said that records available to him showed the state is paying N30,000 minimum wage.

Addressing the press on Sunday, July 14, 2024, Okoro warned the state government that failure to adhere to and implement the Memorandum of Understanding, reached at the meeting by July 28, 2024, “no other notice will be given to the government than to proceed on an indefinite strike.”

The details of the agreement he highlighted include the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award as approved by the Federal Government, payment of severance allowances to Directors and Permanent Secretaries compulsorily retired, payment of current leave allowances, among others.

Also speaking, the state chairman, Trade Union Congress, Ihechi Eneogwe, disclosed that for over one week, organised labour has been discussing with the state government on these issues which the state government must address soonest.