Organised labour has warned that industrial harmony in Cross River State could be jeopardised beginning Wednesday if the state government fails to take real efforts towards implementing the new national minimum wage of N70,000. The warning comes after Labour walked out of a meeting with the Joint Public Service Negotiating and Implementation Committee, which was intended to debate the new minimum wage.
Dr. Innocent Eteng, the State Head of Service, chairs the committee, which comprises representatives from several labour unions such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Speaking to Vanguard after the strike, TUC Chairman in Cross River, Mr. Monday Ogbodum, expressed displeasure, claiming that the government seems uninterested in implementing the new salary.
Ogbodum stated, “From what I can tell, this committee is not prepared to take anything.We have heard that the government does not intend to begin implementation until January 2025, but we have received a direction from our national leadership for the wage to be implemented in October.” He continued, “Our worry is that the Cross River Governor served on the group that suggested this new wage.
As the South-South representative on that group, he should be leading the way, yet Cross River is dragging behind, while other states have already announced the new salary for workers. Previously, the governor informed us that he would carry out everything was agreed upon, but as things are, the government shows no sincerity.”
Mr. Gregory Olayi, the state’s NLC Chairman, also stepped in, claiming that the walkout was caused by the government’s representatives on the committee’s lack of seriousness. He stated, “The government has not put anything substantive on the table.” The representatives don’t appear to be carrying out the governor’s mandate.
At our most recent meeting on Thursday, they constituted a technical committee, which we expected to bring something to discuss. Instead, they arrived unarmed and unprepared, forcing us to organise a walkout until they are willing to meet with us.”
Olayi also added that Labour will meet with all of its organs in Cross River on Tuesday to discuss the future steps. “On Thursday, we issued the government a seven-day ultimatum, which expired at midnight on Monday. “We will decide how to proceed after our meeting on Tuesday and take the necessary actions,” he stated. With tensions increasing, Labour’s next step will be determined by the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting, and industrial action might be imminent if the government fails to demonstrate a commitment to implementing the new wage.
