Workers in Kwara State public service have begun their strike to press home their demand for the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage by the state government.

 The Civil servants in the state shunned their offices to comply with the directive of the organised labour in the state.

Recall that CEO Africa had earlier reported that although the state government on Monday said it had secured an injunction from the National Industrial Court restraining the workers from going on strike, labour leaders have denied receiving any court injunction.  

In the communiqué titled, ‘Strike Notice’, the Kwara Joint Labour Congress said, “This is to inform all workers in the state public service and local government that at the close of work today Monday, October 12, 2020, if the Kwara State Government fails to meet the demands of the workers, which include the signing and implementation of the new minimum wage of N30,000 to all categories of workers of the state, all workers should, as from Tuesday, October 13, 2020, commence an industrial action.”

It was jointly signed by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Ore; acting state Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Ezekiel Adegoke; and state Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Saliu Suleiman.

The government in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, has however said it had secured an injunction from the National Industrial Court, Akure, Ondo State, which restrained the workers from embarking on the industrial action.

The statement read in part, “The National Industrial Court in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, on Monday granted an exparte order restraining the labour unions in Kwara State from proceeding on an industrial strike over disagreements on the signing and implementation of the minimum wage.

“Granted by Justice D. K. Damulak of the Akure Division of the Industrial Court, the order came as the labour unions directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike from Tuesday unless the government accedes to its requests.

“In an affidavit filed at the industrial court in the suit No NICN/AK/53/2020, the government is asking whether it is lawful for it to sign an agreement affecting local government workers when it is not in control of local government finances or expending its funds.”

The case was instituted by the Attorney-General of Kwara State as the plaintiff, while the defendants were the NLC, TUC and the JNC.