Nasarawa Govt, Labour Reach Consensus Over Industrial Rift

The Nasarawa State government and organised labour have reached a consensus over the lingering industrial dispute propelled by the payment of workers’ emolument in percentages.

The consensus was reached after a meeting of the tripartite committee set up by the state government at the deputy governor’s office in Lafia, the state’s capital in north-central Nigeria.

The meeting officially brought to climax series of meetings held by the committee with a view to resolving discrepancies that led to the July/August industrial action in the state and the continuous payment of workers’ salaries in percentages.

No Victor, No Vanquish

Giving a brief of the meeting which lasted for six hours, Chairman of the committee and Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara, told Channels Television that the state government and the labour union have amicably resolved all contending issues.

He said due to a number of factors considered by both parties, they have decided to shift grounds to allow a peaceful decision in the benefit and interest of the workers.

“We have amicably come to the final position and we have resolved all issues that made workers of Nasarawa State go on strike.

“Government on its own side shifted grounds, labour too have shifted grounds and as it is, there is no victor, no vanquish,” he said.

The 6-point agreement, reached by both labour and government, has the input of the representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The agreement included the payment of July salaries by 50% which would be paid in two tranches to commence on Tuesday, December 13 with the other part to be paid in January 2017.

Consequently, the agreement also involved the state government paying December salaries by 50% due to shortfall in allocation from the Federal Government while the government would device a means to pay full salaries in 2017, even if it means accumulating two months allocations.

The government also agreed to pay the remaining months arrears from the first quarter of 2017 as soon as the economic situation of the state improves.

The organised labour, who spoke through Comrade Sule Odeh, expressed satisfaction and promised to cooperate with the government.

“We have signed an agreement between us and the government because all issues have been resolved, especially the issue of July/August salary payment which the government has agreed to pay” he said.

The representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dalhatu Ahmad, on his part, appreciated both parties for reaching the consensus.