Why We Didn’t Sign Mou To End Strike, By Nasarawa NLC

The leadership of organised labour in Nasarawa State has said
they refused to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Nasarawa State government to suspend the ongoing strike action
because the government allegedly doctored the agreement.

Yusuf Iya, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Mohammed
Doma, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) told reporters yesterday
in Lafia, the state capital after their Congress meeting.

The NLC Chairman explained that a committee set up after the
commencement of the strike had collectively written an agreement
(MoU) on what to do to end the strike.

He said the MoU collectively written stated that the last
tranche of August 2016 salary arrears would be paid in June.

“We also agreed that promotions would be implemented from August
while the committee on minimum wage should resume discussion on the
consequential adjustments for workers in level seven and above.

“But, to our surprise, the government doctored the agreement and
included a clause that, whenever the federal allocation is less
than N4 billion, the government would revert to old payment.”

“Meaning that any month the allocation is less than N4 billion
the government would suspend the implementation of the promotion
and pay workers in their old grade levels,” the NLC Chairman
added.

Iya said signing the agreement with the clause would mean
mortgaging the future of workers in Nasarawa State.

On his part, TUC Chairman expressed displeasure with the
government for including what was not originally contained in the
agreement written by representatives of labour and the
government.

He said workers were very patient with the government but had to
embark on the strike to fight for their rights to ensure carrier
progression.

The TUC Chairman further revealed that the workers would
continue to stay at home until their demands are fulfilled by the
state government.

The leadership of organised labour in Nasarawa State has said
they refused to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Nasarawa State government to suspend the ongoing strike action
because the government allegedly doctored the agreement.

Yusuf Iya, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Mohammed
Doma, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) told reporters yesterday
in Lafia, the state capital after their Congress meeting.

The NLC Chairman explained that a committee set up after the
commencement of the strike had collectively written an agreement
(MoU) on what to do to end the strike.

He said the MoU collectively written stated that the last
tranche of August 2016 salary arrears would be paid in June.

“We also agreed that promotions would be implemented from August
while the committee on minimum wage should resume discussion on the
consequential adjustments for workers in level seven and above.

“But, to our surprise, the government doctored the agreement and
included a clause that, whenever the federal allocation is less
than N4 billion, the government would revert to old payment.”

“Meaning that any month the allocation is less than N4 billion
the government would suspend the implementation of the promotion
and pay workers in their old grade levels,” the NLC Chairman
added.

Iya said signing the agreement with the clause would mean
mortgaging the future of workers in Nasarawa State.

On his part, TUC Chairman expressed displeasure with the
government for including what was not originally contained in the
agreement written by representatives of labour and the
government.

He said workers were very patient with the government but had to
embark on the strike to fight for their rights to ensure carrier
progression.

The TUC Chairman further revealed that the workers would
continue to stay at home until their demands are fulfilled by the
state government.