Akwa Ibom State Nigeria Labour Congress has given the state government a 14-day ultimatum beginning Tuesday, October 27, saying failure of the government to accede to these demands will compel the congress to embark on an indefinite strike.
The decision taken after State Executive Council meeting on Monday at the Workers Solidarity Centre, Atan Offot, Uyo listed 13 demands for implementation by the government.
The union had served the government a similar ultimatum on October 7, though the demands were not attended to by the government.
A communique signed by the NLC’s Chairperson, Comrade Sunny James and Acting Secretary of the union, Comrade Iboro Ibara listed such demands as payment of the 2020 leave grant to all civil servants, immediate end to dubious and recalcitrant salary consultants, immediate end to the encroachment on the land earlier allocated by government to the organised labour, immediate implementation of promotions and payment of accrued promotion arrears to civil servants, and clearance of backlogs of gratuities to retirees.
Others include immediate payment of the December 2019 arrears of minimum wage to Akwa Ibom civil servants, release of refunds of the 7.5 per cent contributory pensions to primary school teachers, immediate harmonisation of of pensions for state retirees, conclusion of action on the re-validation of the 403 local government health workers, and immediate recall of the four sacked leaders in Syringe Manufacturing Company, Onna.
The rest are immediate resuscitation of Peacock Paints Limited and Akwa Savings Bank and appointment of new board members, payment of outstanding salary to workers of Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) from January 2020 till date and expedition of action on the completion of Ikot Oku Ikono-Abak Road junction bypass.
Addressed to the state Governor, the ultimatum was copied to the Secretary to the State Government; Head of the Civil Service; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Commissioner, Labour, Productivity and Manpower Planning; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; the Commissioner for Lands, and Water Resources; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy; the State Director of SSS, and the state Commissioner of Police.
