Minimum Wage : Gov Dickson Bows To Pressure Gives Nod To Implementation After NLC Protest
News February 2, 2020 Arodiegwu Eziukwu
Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Thursday bowed to pressure and gave nod to the implementation of M30,000 minimum wage following pressure from the workforce who blocked the treasury
The approval was contained in a later date Jan. 30, 2020 signed by the Head of Service in Bayelsa Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama sighted by our reporter.
The letter addressed to Secretary to Bayelsa Government, Commissioners and Head of Ministries Departments and Agencies said the implementation should reflect in the January 2020 salary of workers in the state.
However, checks by NAN indicate that most MDAs had already prepared and submitted vouchers for January salaries due for payment from first week of February without the N30,000 minimum wage template.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Bayelsa, had on Tuesday shut down the Treasury Building in Yenagoa, to demand the implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of December salaries of some workers in the state.
The workers alleged that the government reneged on its pledge to implement the new wage in December 2019, and January vouchers sighted by labour leaders had no indication of the new wage.
The workers who besieged the treasury building said they would continue to occupy the treasury to ensure that no cash was withdrawn for any other purpose by government until the minimum wage was implemented.
Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kemela Okara, addressed the workers and assured workers that their January salary would be paid with the new minimum wage next week.
Chairman of the NLC in Bayelsa, Mr John Ndiomu, said during Tuesday’s protest that without the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage in January salaries, the workers would not leave the Treasury Building gate.
“Political appointees have paid themselves, so why should the workers case be different? In December, some were paid while others did not get their salaries.
“All we are asking for now is pay us the January salary with the minimum wage template. I am sure the address of the SSG, did not go down well and unacceptable to most of us here.
“If workers are ready to stay here, then so be it, nobody should use force on Bayelsa workers, if they try it tomorrow, more will join us,” he said.
The current administration led by Dickson would be completing its second term in office on February 14, 2020.
