The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday gave Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the issue of unpaid workers’ salaries or face labour actions.
The presidents of the two unions issued the ultimatum at a rally organised by their respective state chapters at the NLC office in Lokoja.
Addressing a large crowd of workers, Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC National President, said that no reasonable government would deny workers of their salaries for seven months.
Wabba threatened a national labour action in the state if the governor refused to address lingering issues and stop the usage of two banks for workers to access, what he called their fundamental human rights.
The president hailed the workers for their doggedness, courage and determination to press home their demands in spite of several intimidation from the state government and its apparatus.
“Let me salute you for your courage and determination to pay the ultimate price for your fundamental human rights in the face of threat and intimidation.
“All over the world, nobody gets his right while sitting down and watching without taking any drastic action; there is price for liberty everywhere in the world which is vigilance.
“We have heard about your predicaments and we thought we cannot have the comfort of sitting in Abuja without coming to see and confirm the report we received.
“With our collective strength and unity, we shall surely overcome these predicaments caused by our leaders,” he said.
He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to garner the will to ensure that no arm of government under his watch would mismanage public funds.
TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, also reiterated the need for the governor to pay the salaries within four weeks, saying they will not allow impunity against any worker in the state.
Represented by Mr Austin Etabor, the Deputy President of the union, Kaigama urged the workers to be united and stand together as one indivisible force, keeping their hope alive by defending their rights.
Both leaders of the organised labour urged the media in the state to avoid any form of bias reportage.
The Chairman of NLC in Kaduna State, Mr On Edoka, had earlier in a solidarity speech, alleged that some state governments were pushing labour unions to the wall.
Edoka warned that workers were prepared to fight back to secure their rights.
