The National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has set up a task force to actualise payment of eight months salary arrears owed workers by some state governments.
The NLC’s position was contained in a communiqué released at the end of a meeting of the National Administrative Council of the Congress, signed by President and General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson respectively.
The congress condemned the failure of some state governments to pay their workers for as long as eight months.
The NLC also noted that the devaluation of the Naira had eroded the purchasing capacity of the Nigerian workers and urged the Federal Government to come up with the requisite measures to address the issue.
“The NAC-in-Session examined the state of the economy and its impact on Nigerian workers.
“NAC-in-Session condemned in very strong terms the vogue among state governments to owe workers salary in excess of 8 months. In response to this ugly trend NAC-In-Session set up a Task Force to drive Congress intervention and actions in redressing the anomaly.
“The NAC-in-Session saluted the courage and actions of the Ebonyi State Council of Congress who are currently on strike as a result of backlog of owed salaries. Their response to the situation was commended to the State Councils of NLC facing similar challenges.
“The NAC-in-Session noted with concern the devaluation of the Naira which has drastically eroded the purchasing power of the worker and made nonsense of the N18,000 minimum wage. It urged the government to quickly come up with measures to shore up the value of the Naira and also to cushion the effect of eroded purchasing power of the worker,” The communiqué read in part.
The labour leaders also warned against any action that could tamper with the sanctity of the May 28, 2015 day fixed for the Presidential election.
