From Yakubu Busari, Jos
Some of the workers dressed in black to signify their displeasure
The protesting Local Government Workers in Plateau State have besieged their various Council headquarters by dressing in black attires with leafs using cooking utensils to cook and share foods and barricade the main entrance .
The protesters lamented that they have spent nine years without the enjoying previous minimum wage as their other counterpart from the state ministry,owning to non- implementation of 18 percent minimum wage .
According to them the government had refused to implement the new policy, dealing with their promotion and 30 % minimum wage increase.
Comrade Arandong Makwin, the Plateau Tripartite Union Chairman and Chairman, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Barkin Ladi, while commending the courage of the Barkin Ladi council chairman in addressing their plight, however demanded the payment of the old wage before addressing the current one on N30,000 .
Makwin, commended the chairman for accepting to implement the staff promotions and other demands within his powers.
“We as workers of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area can testify that as our new chairman, you have started well and pray and hope that you will end well.
“What bothers us most is the old N18,000 minimum wage that we have never enjoyed for nine years and hope that you will help take this message to our dear governor to consider us and pay us without delay.
“Today, Nigerian workers are talking about N30,000 minimum wage but surprisingly, we are still on N18,000 which many have enjoyed over nine years now,’’ Makwin said.
Mr Ezekiel Mondyau, the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau, appealed to striking workers of the council to call off the strike, pledging to pay them promotion arrears and meet their other demands.
Mondyau made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing the workers at the council’s secretariat.
“I will always support you to get what belongs to you as my loyal staff,” he said.
The workers of the 17 local government areas of Plateau had on Monday embarked on strike over 11 demands including implementation of nine-year-old N18,000 minimum wage, promotion arrears and financial autonomy.
The protesting local government workers had shut the gates to the secretariats of the local governments.
The workers insisted that until their 11-point demands were met, the secretariats would remain closed.
“As workers, we need to understand each other in our collective interest and for our own progress.
“Government is aware that you are entitled to your dues, as Gov. Simon Lalong always emphasises. So rest assured that the government will give you your dues at all times.
“I have gotten your letter, which contains your demands and I wish to assure you that those within my powers such as your promotion shall be implemented,’’ Mondyau said.
The chairman advised the striking workers to be law-abiding and show understanding with his council.
