The Kwara State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the state government to release the November 2024 salaries of local government employees.
In a statement signed by the union’s secretary, Isiah Elachochi Eugene, and released in Ilorin, the NLC disclosed that approximately 75% of the state’s workforce, primarily local government staff, are yet to receive their November pay.
The affected workers include members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
The NLC called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene by directing the relevant authorities to immediately resolve the salary delay.
The union warned that failure to address the issue could result in industrial action.
The NLC emphasized that it would not accept the payment of December salaries unless the outstanding November wages are cleared.
The union further warned that it would invoke relevant provisions of labour law to initiate a statewide shutdown if the salaries were not paid by Thursday, December 19, 2024.
While the NLC acknowledged the government’s previous efforts in prioritizing workers’ welfare, it insisted that timely payment of salaries remains a critical part of employee welfare.
The union urged the government to pay the November salaries before disbursing December payments to avoid disruption to the state’s economic activities.
The statement read, “It may surprise His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State that more than 75 percent of the workers, the majority of whom are staff of the 16 local government areas of the state have not received their November 2024 salaries in the state.
“Consequently, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is using this forum to appeal to the state government to effect the payment of the November 2024 salaries to avert industrial unrest.
“Your Excellency, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC will not accept the payment of December Salary 2024 without the full payment of November 2024 salaries.
“In view of the above, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, hereby calls on the state government to, without wasting time, effect the full payment of the November 2024 salaries to the affected members to avoid invocation of relevant provisions of the labour law to declare a total shutdown of the state by Thursday 19th December 2024, until November 2024 salaries are paid in full.”