The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has alleged that Kaduna State Government is mobilising hoodlums to discredit their Monday protest.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, dated May 26, 2021 the union said: “We are calling the attention of general public to the planned mobilization of thugs by the State Government to discredit our peaceful protest of tomorrow.
“Hence, we advocate that the people of Kaduna State should be vigilant and stand against this plan,” NLC said.
The congress said that, “The warrant of arrest on the National President of NLC Comrade Ayuba Waba as claimed by Kaduna State Government is an unwarranted intimidation on Labour movement.
“This is considered as a violation of human right act. The National President’s involvement in this action is intended to protect the interest of Kaduna State workers”.
NLC pointed out that earlier, they were misled to commend Kaduna State Government for being the first state to implement thirty thousand Naira (N30, 000) minimum wage to both Civil Servants and the retirees.
“But however, we noted with dismay that the government reverted to old minimum wage of Eighteen thousand Naira (N18, 000) in the month of April, 2021 Salary in the Local government council, about twenty thousand (20, 000) State civil servants received half Salary which is even less than the former Eighteen thousandNaira (N18, 000) minimum wage.
“Health workers were denied almost all their allowances such as hazard, call duty, shifting, rural posting etc.
“It’s disheartening to say that Kaduna State Government on the bases of their claim that it had paid up to 14 billion Naira as arrears of death benefit and gratuity from 2017 but the fact is that the same government disengaged over thirty five thousand (35, 000) civil servants in 2017 and up to date over 80 per cent have not received their retirement benefits,” it pointed out.
The statement noted that it’s sad for Kaduna State Government to claim its commitment to training of workers while those that are qualified for promotion remain “stagnate” for years.
“On claims by the government supporting civil servants to pay for houses through mortgages on a single digits interest, this claim is false. The reality of this, was that this mortgages was gotten by the joint efforts of NLC and TUC.
“The State Government in its Ignorance failed to realize the obvious fact that payments of salaries have multiplying effects on the social- welfare and economy. In other words, when salaries are paid it reflects down the line.
“The unfortunate downsizing of work force in Kaduna State was not done in accordance with the statutory Labour law, with keen examination of it’s activities from 2017 till date, over fifty thousand workers were affected.
“It’s in the public domain that over Twenty One thousand Teachers were sacked, five (5) thousand Local Government workers were equally disengaged in 2017, while another Twelve (12) thousand State civil servants were also unfairly disengaged and the recent sacking of over seven thousand workers of local government in the month of April, 2021 these lay credence to the figure given by the NLC.
“The claim by the State Government to promote the right of the Children of the poor to decent education, is contradictory to the recent increase in tuition fees in the State owned institutions to the tune of more than Three Hundred per cent (300%) increase,” the statement explained.
It further said that the claim by Kaduna State Government that NLC recruited hoodlums to cause mayhem during the strike is untrue because it is not in the character of Labour to indulge in such uncivilized manner as against the nature of politicians.
“All the affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress are fully committed to participate in the strike action without compulsion.
“On this note we implore the general public to remain calm and peaceful throughout the 5 days warning strike period which we are assuring the Kaduna State workers and the general public of our commitment to maintain peaceful strike action for the interest of workers in the State and the general public,” it concluded.
