Negotiations ongoing to resolve labour crisis in Kwara – NLC

Kwara State government has engaged the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in a bid to beat the 14-day ultimatum issued to the government.

The ultimatum expires on January 26, 2024, with a slim hope that the government will meet the over 20 demands of the labour movement in the state.

Demands of the labour movement, include among others, the implementation of the N35,000 wage award for all categories of state workers.

The body is also demanding the domestication and implementation of the 40 percent peculiar allowance for workers across the state as approved and provided for workers in the federal government employment.

Also on the list of the demands is the implementation of the consequential adjustment for pensioners and weigh-in allowances for workers in the state-owned media houses.

It was gathered in Ilorin on Friday that the meeting between the labour movement and the government will continue on Monday, with a resolution expected by the NLC on Tuesday.

Chairman of the NLC, Saheed Murtala Olayinka, in a chat with newsmen in Ilorin on Friday, disclosed that he does not expect a holistic solution to the demands by the labour movement.

He said at the last meeting with Mahe Abdulkadir, Chief of Staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the finance commissioner, among others, the labour movement laid down their grievances.

“We presented over 21 demands of workers in the state to the state government.

“On the basis of that, the state government promised to change its method of relating with the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership, assuring that the most critical of the demands must be addressed in a bid to ensure that better things are done before the deadline of January 26, 2024.

“If nothing is forthcoming as promised by the government, we will remain resolute to defend all our demands in the interest of the workers in the state,” he said.

It was learnt that another meeting has been fixed before the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.

Authoritative sources indicated that the next meeting on Tuesday will determine the NLC’s next line of action.

“The government is trying to foot-drag by telling us that Kwara is at the bottom of the federal allocation table.

“But the government has refused to disclose other sources of revenue apart from federal allocation, such as bailouts, grants, and financial assistance from the federal government,” the source added.