The Nigeria Labour Congress in Ebonyi State has started a one-week warning strike to protest the new minimum wage structure announced by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The strike, which began on Sunday, December 1, 2024, was announced by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Egwu Oguguo, during a press briefing in Abakaliki.
Oguguo criticized the governor for unilaterally declaring a wage award of N75,000 for workers on grade levels 1 and 2 and N40,000 for those on grade levels 3 to 16 without consulting organized labor.
“The pronouncement made during a church service on October 27, 2024, was not the result of any collective bargaining agreement,” Oguguo stated. “When a minimum wage is announced, it should undergo proper consequential adjustments agreed upon by both the government and labor unions.”
The NLC also accused the state government of failing to implement the 2019 N30,000 minimum wage and using a flawed salary chart that reduces workers’ earnings.
“Workers in Ebonyi are forced to use a salary chart that lacks proper progression and leaves them financially malnourished. This has made our state one of those that never implemented the 2019 minimum wage,” Oguguo said.
Efforts by the Minimum Wage Implementation Committee to address these concerns were allegedly ignored by the governor.
“Our appeals to the governor, including a meeting on November 27, were met with outright rejection,” Oguguo added. “Workers are also being asked to pay N2,100 for a staff audit exercise, further burdening them financially.”
The NLC revealed additional grievances, including delayed salary payments for local government workers and irregular payment methods for teachers, which have caused confusion and financial hardship.
“Local government workers are yet to receive their October salaries, and teachers are being paid through a different bank channel, leading to inconsistencies in statutory deductions,” Oguguo noted.
The NLC urged the state government to reconsider its stance and engage in meaningful dialogue to address workers’ demands.
“We still believe in the governor’s reputation as a worker-friendly leader and hope this strike will lead to constructive engagement,” Oguguo concluded.
The warning strike is expected to last for one week, pending the government’s response to the union’s demands.
