The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has embarked on indefinite strike following the failure of the state to clear backlog of unpaid salaries and pensions arrears in the state.
The strike was made public during a protest by the members of the union in Umuahia, the state capital on Tuesday.
The assistant general secretary of the union in the state, Chris Onyeka, who led the workers on the protest said the protest was sequel to the failure of the state government to act on the directive of NLC National President, Joe Ajero, on the need to pay Abia workers their salaries arrears.
He said the National leadership of the NLC under Ajero, is sensitive to the welfare of workers and will not fold her hand and watch the governor Okezie Ikpeazu led government to toil the welfare of her members in the state
He said, “Our national president wrote to the Abia state government on the need to pay Abia workers their arrears of the salaries, but the state government did not act on the letter.
“The state government was given 14 days ultimatum to address the problems associated with payment of salaries owed Abia workers and the ultimatum expired on Monday February 28, 2023, hence the indefinite strike to press home our demand.”
“Our union gave the state government 14 days to address the problems associated with payment of salaries owed to Abia workers and it expired on Monday, hence the indefinite strike to press home Abia workers’ demand.”
“The Abia government instead of sitting down with us to see how to resolve the problems, they are resorting to the intimidation of workers, but no amount of intimidation will make us stop the indefinite strike”.