The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced an indefinite strike in Abia State, to protest against nonpayment of workers and pensioners by the State government. The strike which began on midnight Monday was declared by the State Executive Council of NLC in the State. Enforcing the strike in Umuahia on Tuesday, Abia State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Pascal Nweke accused the outgoing government of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of nonpayment of workers’ salaries, leave allowances and minimum wage.
The NLC Chairman also accused Abia State government of not paying pensioners their stipends running into several months even as it said staff of parastatals is owed salaries ranging from five to thirteen months. He vowed that no civil servant will come to work until workers are paid their salaries and other entitlements.
The Labour leader who enforced the picketing of government ministries, parastatals and agencies in Umuahia on Tuesday, said the sealed offices would remain closed indefinitely. He further regretted that despite assurances from the State government that salaries of workers would be paid, the State government reneged on an earlier agreement it had with the organized labour. The Chairman declared: “This strike is total. We can’t stop this strike until we start getting our alerts.”