The organised Labour in Abia State has issued what it described as a final seven-day ultimatum to Governor Alex Otti over the non-payment of N30,000 minimum wage and N35,000 palliative wage award approved by the federal government for workers in the state.
The organised Labour, comprising Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, threatened to commence an indefinite strike if their demands were not met within the one-week ultimatum.
It also warned that it will no longer communicate with the state government before embarking on indefinite strike if the demands are not met within seven days.
In a letter by the state chairmen of NLC and TUC, Okoro Ogbonnaya and Enogwe Ihechi, respectively, the labour unions disclosed that the decision was reached during its general meeting held on Monday, July 8, 2024, following the previous 14-day ultimatum notice, which expired without any resolution from the state government regarding the demand of the workers.
In the letter, which was addressed to Governor Otti, the organised labour expressed its disappointment over the failure of the government to engage in dialogue or provide a solution to the demands and warned that from next Monday, the workers in the state would proceed on an indefinite strike action if the government fails to comply within the 7 days.
The letter read; “Arising from the general meeting of Labour in the state on Monday, 8th July,2024, to consider that the 14-day ultimatum has elapsed, it was noticed that the government has not deemed it necessary to dialogue with Labour nor provide solutions to the demands of workers.
“In line with the national directives on non-compliance of the Abia state government, on the payment of the former N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award as approved by the federal government since October 2023, the organised labour hereby issue this final seven-day ultimatum with effect from the day of receipt of this letter and state unequivocally that at the expiration of this ultimatum on Sunday, there shall be no further communication to the state government. Rather, the entire workforce of Abia state will proceed on indefinite strike action beginning from Monday,15th July 2024.”