El-Rufai gets 7 days to pay 9 months salary arrears

The organized labour comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC yesterday gave Gov Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State a seven days ultimatum to pay workers their six to nine months salary arrears or face industrial action.

Factional President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba said this in Kaduna on Wednesday while addressing a workers' rally.

He also called on the governor to reverse his anti workers policies.

“All workers of Kaduna State should fill the verification form and indicate whether to join labour or opt out. But, you should make a copy of that form and keep it with your union officials for the records. We believe that the governor wants to rig the process and announce that most workers had indicated that they don’t want to join any trade union. With that, he can abrogate unionism here and deal with you badly. So, keep a copy with your union officials. In the next seven days, if El-Rufai does not pay workers their sixth to ninth months’ salary arrears, pay compensation to the victims of his verification exercises, the following will happen – We are going to mobilise all workers in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and other trade unions outside the public service to stop work for a day in solidarity with Kaduna State workers.

“If the governor refuses to heed to these demands, we are going to move to Kaduna – All workers from 36 states of the Nigeria and from their LGAs. We are going to occupy Kaduna with our colleagues, market men and women, artisans and artistes, Bank workers , Construction workers, drivers’ unions and everyone that is sympathetic to organised labour, " he said.