JUST IN: Niger government, striking workers reach agreement

An agreement has been reached between the labour union and the state government, led by Governor Mohammed Bago, following the strike by the Niger State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

The indefinite strike, which commenced on Wednesday, was called by the NLC after the state government failed to meet the workers’ demands.

The strike resulted in the shutdown of most public offices and the absence of civil servants from work.

Governor Bago in response to the strike, convened a meeting with the labour leaders, held in the council chamber of the Niger State Government House, which ended with both parties singing the labour solidarity anthem, indicating a positive conclusion.

At a press briefing after the meeting, the state NLC chairman, Idrees Lafene, announced the resolution of the issues raised.

“We have met and resolved all the issues that were raised and as it is now, we have an agreement on ground with the government.

“As I said, we have resolved all the issues raised. For instance, on the issue of wage award, the government has agreed to pay N20,000 across board for state and local government workers by March.

“Then on leave grant, it was agreed to be spread for six months. It will be paid once for now.

“On the reversal of the appointments, a tripartite committee was set up to look at the issue, comprising the House of Assembly, the executive, and the Labour,” Lafene stated.

He added that he would speak with members of the union on the outcome of the meeting with the governor, stating that it was only the union members who could call off the strike.

Governor Bago expressed confidence that the labour would call off the strike since all the contentious issues had been resolved.

Bago said, “We have resolved, we are assuring Nigerians and Nigerlites alike that all the issues that were raised have been resolved.

“The arrears have been resolved, most of the issues were inherited, the government had reneged on some of their promises but now we have resolved. We have a very solid agreement that we have both signed between the Labour and the state government.

“All the issues raised have been resolved.

“For instance, the issue of leave grant, leave grant is no more in vogue, it is now a consolidated salary; unfortunately, some people were paid in 2019, others were not paid.

“The second issue is the appointments we have made. It is the nomenclature not the appointments. A tripartite committee has been created with the state government, the state Assembly and the Labour to look at the laws and see a way around it and come out with a better resolution.”

The governor assured Nigerians and residents of Niger State that normalcy would return to public offices.