The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Zamfara Comr. Sani Haliru has threatened that members of the orgamized Labour may go spiritual if certain amendments regarding the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wages by Zamfara State government is not effected.
The Chairman who stated this in a press briefing on Wednesday insisted that though the NLC/TUC leadership were deeply involved in the negotiation they all became disappointed after the salary for the month of march was released by the state government a circumstance he described as heavily disappointing.
He also alleged that the technical committee set up by Zamfara State government for the implementation of new N70,000 minimum wages deliberately denied the leadership of the organized Labour the approved table/scale and circular uded for the implementation of the new minimum wages.
Sani Haliru stated that up to the closing of work on Tuesday, they have been battling from one office to another to get the approved scale released, but the effort hit the hard wall.
“Up to yesterday (Tuesday) we have contacted both the Head of Service and Permanent Secretary Establishment for the labour unions to be able to access the circular and indeed the table to be used for the new salary implementation but the Permanent Secretary establishment made it clear to us that no piece of information was issued to him by the government for the purpose of raising a circular”.
He said the organized Labour unions in the state will not accept the scales implemented and that the integrity of the organized lbour unions and that of the state government has been damaged.
He described as unfortunate that, Senior civil servants in Zamfara were only paid N7000, some N5000 and even N4000 Naira as adjustment from their old salary.
He said at the initial stage they have taken the government in confidence when the commitment was made earlier by the Governor and agreed to sign an agreement to commence action.
He said at the inception, the leadership of the NLC/TUC contacted other (12) sectors of their affiliate bodies for them to bring their approved peculiar tables.
He explained that all these sectors were provided the opportunity to present their scales as approved by revenue and wages commission.
He insisted that after their harmonization meeting, the committee was made to meet with the Special Adviser on Economic Matters who is the intermediary between the government and labour and he was briefed on the consensus reached by the negotiation committee after which he made his observations for amendment.
Sani Haliru explained further that after they brought an amended version of the scale, the SA Economic Matters in consultation with the Accountant General of the state assured that the scale was averagely fair.
He stated that, when the matter was presented finally before the state executive council, the Governor further assured that the issues of implementation of new minimum wages remains assured.
