Abia workers suspend planned industrial action

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The industrial action of the trade unions in Abia State, which was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, July 15, 2024, will no longer take place, according to the union leadership.

The source reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its ally, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), wrote a letter to the Abia State Governor last week informing them of the decision of the state’s workforce to go on strike to press for their demands for the implementation of the 30,000 naira minimum wage for 2019 and the 35,000 naira wage increase by the Federal Government, effective July 15.

However, they insisted that the planned strike could be averted if serious negotiations were started with the state authorities.

The Chairman of the NLC State Chapter, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, explained in a press conference on Sunday, July 14, that the suspension of the industrial action is to give the state government time to implement the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with it.

The two parties were engaged in marathon negotiations in Umuahia, the state capital, from Friday, July 13 to Saturday, July 14.

The NLC chairman said the MoU mainly addressed the two issues of minimum wage for 2019 and wage increase for 2023, but warned that the strike issue would arise again if the terms of the agreement were not met on or before July 28.

The seven-point MoU also included, among other things, payments to employees for their holiday entitlement over the last four years.

Comrade Ogbonnaya therefore called on the workers of Abia State to return to their various posts while promising that the union leadership would continue to monitor compliance with the MoU.

He assured the workers that the union leadership would work to protect their interests and welfare.

Chairman of the state trade union federation, Ihechi Eneogwe, added that the union leadership would work with the state government to ensure that workers in the state get what they deserve.