For months, civil servants in Akwa Ibom State have waited for the implementation of the new national minimum wage, but their patience has run out.
They gathered at an emergency meeting, where they made a crucial decision.
It is the third day of the month of December, yet some of the workers may have finished their salaries paid just a few days ago.
The workers believe they should be in a better condition.
In that circumstance, civil servants in Akwa Ibom State have decided to go on strike starting Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Akwa Ibom Workers To Go On Strike
This decision stems from the non-implementation of the national minimum wage in the state.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) on Monday.
The meeting, held at the Nigeria Labour Congress Secretariat in Atan Offot, Uyo, followed a directive from the National Executive Council of the NLC.
The directive mandated states yet to implement the minimum wage to commence a strike from 1st December 2024.
Members of the State Administrative Council and the State Executive Council attended the meeting.
Akwa Ibom remains one of the states yet to enforce the new wage policy.
Statement From Communiqué
The communiqué, signed by SEC Chairperson Sunny James and made available to reporters on Tuesday, detailed the resolutions.
It stated: “That His Excellency directs the signing of the New National Minimum Wage Agreement, which shall state the effective date of implementation while the staff verification exercise shall continue”.
It further added “that if by midnight of Tuesday, 3rd December 2024, the agreement mentioned in (1) above is not signed with the effective date and month of commencement for payment properly indicated.
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“Also, all workers in the state shall commence an indefinite strike action over the non-implementation of the new wage”.
Acknowledgement Of NLC Directive
The communiqué also highlighted their acknowledgment of the national NLC directive.
It read: “That the SEC-in-session hereby acknowledges the directives of the national leadership of the NLC and the presidents of affiliate unions to commence action on 1st December 2024″.
However, they decided to adjust the strike date. “Due to the peculiar situation of the burial of the First Lady of our state, the strike date was shifted by three (3) days.
“Therefore, all workers are hereby directed to proceed on strike on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, if the agreement is not signed by that time,” the communiqué explained.
The workers were also instructed to mobilise for a mass protest.
“That workers are further directed to come out en masse to the Akwa Ibom State Government House gate at Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, on Monday, 9 December 2024, to massively protest for the payment of their New National Minimum Wage,” it concluded.