Fresh strike looms in Kano as NLC, TUC reject Ganduje’s reversion to old wages

By Muhammad Muhammad

Joint Consultative Forum of workers unions in Kano may soon embark on full scale industrial action following the decision of Kano state government to revert to old wages beginning from February salary.

Besides, the worker’s unions vehemently rejected government N18,000 offer for local government workers and downward deduction in the salary of state workers.

Addressing journalists on Thursday after the union’s emergency meeting, Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kano state council, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said labour took the decision after government rejected offers to refund deductions in salaries.

Comrade Minjibir, disclosed that Kano state government through the head of Civil Service, Barr. Binta Lawal Ahmed had told the workers union that government would not be able to pay the minimum wage of N30,000 to workers due to shortfall in the Federal allocation received in for the month of February.

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According to Minjibir, the head of service claimed that the 36 states and FCT shared N544billion for the month of February against N699billion realized in the month earlier, a development which negatively affected the ability of Kano state government to meet her month financial liabilities.

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” We are distancing ourselves henceforth from government decision to deduct workers salary and reversal of local government workers salary to N18,000. By implications, it is certain the pensioners will also be affected. We were called by the head of service informing us that there was shortfall in FAAC allocation which made it impossible for them to pay the minimum wage.

However, all the labour unions, NLC, TUC, JNC, JCF, NUP and public sector union in Kano met and gave government options, which include ensuring blockage in IGR and making saving from the revenue to argument salaries and refunding workers deductions from their salaries the moment FAAC allocation raise to N700billion. But government accepted all the recommendations except refunding the deducted percent from workers salaries”.

Minjibir declared that NLC has reported the development to the mother body of labour while awaiting further action that will followed government action. He regretted government reversal to old payment despite the harsh economy situation of the country coupled with fuel scarcity which negatively affecting workers welfare.

Kano Old wages