Union Issues
Ultimatum Over Salary Disparity
Helen Shok Jok, Abuja
The
organised labour in Nigeria has issued an ultimatum to the
government to re-open and conclude negotiations on salary
disparity in the Public Service, by the end of April 2010.
The Joint Public Service Negotiating Council on Thursday said
that unless this is done, the unions would have no choice but to
take further steps to fight for workers’ rights
The council had slated the 8th of April for a meeting of its
executives, to decide the next ‘line of action’,
following delay by the government to open negotiations.
At the instance of government, the council after its meeting
proceeded to the Ministry of Labour and Productivity for a peace
meeting with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr.
Chukwuemeka Wogu and his team.
At the end of the peace meeting, Chairman, Joint Public Service
Negotiating Council, Mr. Olakunle Olaitan announced that labour
had given the government until April 30th to re-open and
conclude negotiations on the issue of salary disparity in the
public service.
In his words: “We had frank talks with the honourable
minister of labour and productivity and reached a position, the
position being that, we have it in clear terms that we allow
them to do the needful and what is the needful?, to re-open the
deadlock negotiation and conclude it between now and thirtieth
of April, we don’t want anything that will cause us to embark on
any strike.”
The Labour Minister thanked labour for giving the government
another opportunity to address the issue of wages instead of
embarking on an industrial strike.
The Minister promised to consult with relevant stakeholders
within the earliest possible time.
’’ I assure you that I will do my best, within the possible
ambit of the rule of law and within the best practices that
exist globally,’’ the minister promised.
Labour has been consistent with its concerns about the wide gap
in the pay chart in the core civil service of the nation and has
been demanding that the disparity be bridged at every cadre in
the civil service.
Yinka
