The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Kwara state has rejected the negotiation committee the state government constituted to dialogue with labour leaders on behalf of local government workers in the state.
In statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Hotonu Rafiu, the Union secretary, explained that the local government workers union was in support of the 14 days ultimatum the organized labour in the state issued to the state government for the implementation of the new minimum wage.
NULGE, urged the state government to yield to the demands of the labour movement in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.
It pointed out that the sharing formula of the increased Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 percent and 7.5 percent would raise monthly allocation coming to state governments from the federation purse.
“The SEC in session of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), at its meeting held on 5th February, 2020 critically examined the absurd and ugly development from the state government in constituting minimum wage
committee through the Local Government Service Commission for local government workers and which we considered a complete aberration and first of its kind in the history of the democratic rule in our dear state of harmony.
“NULGE wishes to inform our teeming members, teachers, pensioners and also the general public that this erroneous action is not only an aberration but also contrary to the provision of the law that established the minimum wage
negotiation.
“We want to equally use this medium to make it clearly known to our members that NULGE is totally in line with the 14 days ultimatum given to the state government by the labour movement.
“Moreover, the union called attention of the Kwara State government to the signing of the financial bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, which gave birth to the increment in VAT from 5% to 7.5%.
“Hence, the Finance Minister of our dear country said that sharing formula for the 2.5% increment shall be as follows: 15%-Federal government, 50%- State governments and 35%-Local governments. This will definitely boost the monthly allocation coming to each states of the federation in order to cater for the new minimum wage and other meaningful projects.
“In view of this, NULGE Kwara State chapter wishes to implore the state government, in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the state, to shift ground and accede to the table presented by the labour movement.
In the same vein, the state government should desist from the ill advice of constituting any minimum wage committee for the local government, which NULGE and the entire labour movement will vehemently reject”, the NULGE said
It could be recalled that the organised labour, in a communique issued in Ilorin, recently, warned that it should not be held responsible for any industrial action should the government failed to commence the implementation of the new wage within the stipulated time.
The congress was jointly presided over by Aliyu Issa Ore, the state’s NLC chairman; Kolawole Nasir Olumoh TUC and Saliu Suleiman JNC.
“The meeting resolved that the state government should be given 14-days ultimatum starting from 31st January,2020 for home to intervene and resolve all issues related to minimum wage,” it stated
The 14-day ultimatum is expected to lapse on 13th of February.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
