GOVERNMENT WORKERS PREPARE FOR STRIKE AS MINIMUM WAGE TALKS HITS BRICK WALL

Workers under the auspices of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council are getting set for a possible industrial action as a meeting of the Federal government and the unions again hit a brick wall on Monday.

The negotiations on the consequential adjustment which was earlier adjourned to September 4 to allow the government team brief President Muhammadu Buhari was again rescheduled for September 16, but suffered another setback as both parties failed to reach an agreement despite minor adjustments in their separate positions.

Monday’s meeting was chaired by the Head of Service of the federation, Winifred Oyo-ita and both government and the union leaders made minor adjustment to their earlier positions with the government moving from its earlier position of 9.5 percent to 11 percent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 6.5 percent from 5.5 percent for levels 15 to 17.

The workers have insisted that the government adjust salaries of workers on grade levels 07 to 14 by 30 percent and those on levels 15 to 17 by 25 percent.

Chairman of the labour team and National Auditor of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Simon Anchaver accused the government of foot dragging on the process, saying the action of the government is an open invitation for industrial action, since workers are already engulfed in fear and agitations whether their accumulated arrears will be paid when talks are finally concluded

He however said that the meeting decided that the two positions be presented to the President for further action.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had told newsmen recently that the President has directed that the process of negotiations be concluded as soon as possible to enable workers begin to enjoy the new wages.