…Leaders Appeal to LG Workers to await government promised action after the expiration of the 7-Day ultimatum
From Yakubu Busari,Jos
Hundreds of teachers of the Plateau state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers ,NUT,embarked on a peaceful protest on major streets in Jos, the state capital over payment of half salary of the old minimum wage of N18,000 for nine years by the government and the unfulfilled promise on the new minimum wage of N30,000.
Dressed in black and holding placards of different descriptions, they barricaded major streets in the city, having trekked from difference locations to protest the non- payment of the remaining half of the old rate let alone the implementation of the new minimum wage. They called on Governor Simon Lalong honour his promise to pay.
The protests rippled across the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State on Wednesday, where workers protested their non-inclusion on the new minimum wage payroll. and paralysed any activity.
In Jos South Local Government Area, the aggrieved workers blocked the Jos-Abuja high-way causing heavy gridlock around Bukuru metropolis.
In Quaan Pan LGA, the workers carried placards, chanting anti-government songs. On Thursday, the continued and as at press time, road in and out from Anguldi was blocked
The Chairman of the Plateau State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, James Diwa, told newsmen in Jos on Wednesday that the workers were not happy because the Governor has not implemented the N30,000 minimum wage for LG workers.
The chairman said, “The problem has to do with the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state. When government started to pay the state workers with the new minimum wage, we advised them to also extend same to the Council workers but it is clear that our advice was not taken.”
One of the workers said they would not stop the protests until government heeded to their demands.
On Thursday, Comrade James Diwa changed tunes and appealed to Local Government Councils workers as government assured them of continue negotiation with the leadership to prevent further protest .
Diwa in a press statement made available to our medium on Thursday in Jos ,said while government shared in the hardship workers are undergoing in the current economic phase, he urged the protesting workers to suspend all industrial strike as government with the leadership of the negotiating council for peaceful amiably resolution .
He said:”We appeal to workers to be calm and suspend all form of protest for noe ,while the technical committee handling the situation are intensifying their effort at completing its assignment to pave away for the implementation of the new minimum wage to all local Government workers within the shortest possible time.
According to him ,the state government is aware of the 7- day ultimatum issue government to implement the #30,000.00 minimum wage to ascertain the inflow /out flow of each of the 17 LGAs and make appropriate recommendations that will accommodate the payment of the new minimum wage to all workers of LGAs .
