The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has rejected the 50 per cent wage increase for workers in the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau.
Mr Samson Mafuyai, state Chairman of NULGE, disclosed this in Jos.
He said the rejection was due to the state government’s inability to abide with the terms of earlier negotiations with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Reports says that the two central labour unions have consequently issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to pay the local government workers the national minimum wage of N18, 000.
In a letter dated April 10, 2012 and addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the unions advised the government on compliance.
They urged it to ensure a full implementation of the national minimum wage to local government workers in the state.
The letter signed by the state chairmen of NLC and TUC, Mr Jibrin Bancir, and Austin Agbo respectively, said the ultimatum took effect from April 27 and would expire on May 17.
It reads in part: “It is unfortunate that you have not reacted nor implemented the provisions of our letter. It is expected that you will explore this leeway to avert the (industrial) action.”
Mafuyai said labour had agreed to 50 per cent increase in an earlier negotiation with the state.
He said this was on the condition that there would be a re-negotiation if allocations to the local governments improved.
“Now there has been an increase in the subventions of the local governments and the state government has kept quiet.
“This was even after the NLC and TUC had written to government and issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for a full implementation of the national minimum wage.
“This made us to go for a workers parliament, at which our workers supported the ultimatum for government to come to the negotiation table.
“Workers said they are not ready to take anything less than 100 per cent,’’ he said.
