NLC Declare Solidarity Actions in Support of Plateau Workers; Confirms Chris Uyot as Acting General Secretary

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE (CWC) OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD AT LABOUR HOUR HOUSE, ABUJA ON FRIDAY 14^TH DECEMBER 2012

The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) met on Friday 14^th December 2012, and discussed a number of national issues, among them being the on going industrial action embarked on by the workers of Plateau State over the non-implementation of the Minimum Wage to Local Government workers and the non-payment of arrears of six months salary to the workers.

The CWC observed that workers in the Local Governments in Plateau State had temporary agreed to accept a 55% Minimum Wage with an understanding with the State Government that the new wage will be implemented in full when finances of the state improve.

The CWC notes that despite this patriotic gesture of the workers, the state government has refused to pay them an outstanding salary arrears of six months, which had led to a declaration of strike action.

The CWC further observed that government has deployed armed security men and thugs to unleash unprecedented harassment and violence on the striking workers.

After exhaustive deliberation on the six-month long industrial crisis in Plateau State, and the efforts of the leadership of Congress to settle the issue through dialogue to no avail, the CWC,  resolved as follows:

1a. That Congress shall be compelled to call all Nigerian workers to a 3-day Solidarity Strike should the Plateau State government refuse to dialogue with the

workers with a view to  paying all outstanding salaries and wages to the workers and resolve the issue of the implementation of the new minimum wage on or before Wednesday 20^th December 2012.

b.The CWC directed that all state councils across the country should organize prayer sessions against the dictatorship of the Governor of Plateau State and all those standing against the implementation of the new minimum wage to Local Government workers in Plateau State.

c. That all members of the Central Working Committee, that is, Presidents and General Secretaries of all the affiliate unions shall be in Jos, Plateau State to express their solidarity with the striking workers when the strike commences.

d.   Meanwhile, all affiliate unions and state councils are directed to commence mobilization of workers for the strike from 20^thDecember, 2012 and to await further directives.

2. The CWC also confirmed Comrade Chris Uyot as Deputy General Secretary of Congress as well as Acting General Secretary.

 3. Finally, the CWC received a delegation led by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, over the proposed National Celebration of the Centenary of the country, and believed that the project if implemented as conceived, will further enhance peace and unity in the country.  The CWC resolves to work with the Federal Government towards the success of the programme.

Abdulwahed Omar                                                                          Chris Uyot

President                                                                                    Acting General Secretary

Jonah Jang is dangerous to democracy - NLC

                                                                                                                             13^th December, 2012

                                           Press Statement

                          

                          

We are disturbed at the turn of events in Plateau State as the striking workers continue to conduct themselves in peace despite the obvious determination of the state government to enthrone violence across the state as evident in the arrest and violent attack on labour leaders in Langtang South Local Government area of the state two days ago, by soldiers ordered by the Chairman of the Local Government with apparent instructions from the State Governor, David Jonah Jang.  This had provoked the entire community to react in support of the labour leaders who were arrested at about midnight.

We assure all residents of the state of our determination to ensure that the rights of workers are protected peacefully until the state government accepts the reality that there are no options left for them than to implement the new minimum wage in full.

Rather than accept this reality, the Plateau State Government has decided to inflict violence on the citizens through the use of thugs and members of the Special Task Force (STF) who have been attacking workers across the state.  Specifically, some STF personnel picked some workers at Mangu Local Government yesterday morning and subjected them to severe torture to a state of coma, while another set of unemployed youths instigated by Jonah Jang invaded the Workers Freedom Square at the State Government Secretariat where workers usually converged to meet with their leaders.

It has become obvious that Jonah Jang, a former soldier, has not removed his military toga as he is clearly not interested in ending the crises but decided to organize soldiers and violent youths to attack workers who are demanding for the implementation of an agreement he had with the workers.

We insist on the full implementation of the minimum wage in Plateau State and the payment of all salaries and allowances owed Local Government workers for six months.

We call on the workers to continue to exercise their right  and ensure the sustenance of their peaceful actions despite the provocation of  the Governor  and his cohorts.

He has mischievously ignored all attempts at resolving the dispute, including the intervention of the Plateau State House of Assembly ostensibly that his so called political enemies incited the workers to embark on strike. No worker anywhere in the world needs to be incited to demand for his rights to livelihood and survival as mischievously alleged by Jang, and his fair weather minions.  Plateau State is the only state where a strike on the implementation of the new minimum wage has taken as long as six months and it shows clearly that the state government has no intention to foster industrial peace and harmony, but turn Plateau State into a battle field.

For a governor to throw all attempts at dialogue to the wind, even jettisoning the intervention of the state legislators and respected elders in the state to continue to starve workers and their families for six months without pay, is the height of callousness and impunity ever witnessed in a democracy.

It is apparent that Jonah Jang lacks the vision of a responsible leader who should be interested in the peace and progress of the entire state and her citizens. He has exposed himself as one of those eager to truncate the growth of democracy in Nigeria and he needs to be called to order before Plateau State is engulfed in violent crisis and made ungovernable.

Chris Uyot

Acting General Secretary