Workers in Niger State have stopped working this morning after an order from the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The indefinite strike began after the state administration failed to meet their demands.
Idrees Lafene, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Ibrahim Gana, directed civil servants in the state to go on indefinite strike on Monday, citing the state government’s failure to continue negotiations on issues affecting worker welfare and the smooth operation of the state.
However, in an effort to avoid the strike, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, notified journalists that a meeting to resolve issues with labour was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
He stated that the Mohammed Bago administration had a good relationship with organised labour, assuring everyone that difficult problems would be resolved in the best interests of the state.
“In furtherance of this understanding, the government of Niger State today, Tuesday 20th February, 2024 invited organised labour to a meeting by 2 pm and it is hoping to receive its cooperation in this regard,” the minister stated.
He informed the public that the Bago administration is people- and labour-friendly, and that it is still ready to engagement and negotiations to bring Niger State forward.
However, a trustworthy source in the organised labour union, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the meeting did not take place and that the strike would go as planned.
According to another source, the union’s leadership has encouraged all branches to activate their members in order to ensure absolute compliance.
“As usual, the situation room will be open as soon as the strike action begins. We shall continuously update you on the progress of the strike action as it unfolds. We seek your cooperation as we battle the government to better the welfare of all Nigerians.
“The insensitivity of the government to the plight of the ordinary Nigerian portends a very grave danger to all and sundry if the only voice of the voiceless is indifferent,” the source noted.
Meanwhile, multiple attempts to contact the SSG’s Information Officer, Tanko Lawal, who signed the statement announcing the intended meeting between organised labour and the state government on Tuesday, were unsuccessful since his phone line failed to connect.