Abia State Workers Threaten Strike Over Unpaid Minimum Wage and Palliative Award.

Abia State's organised labour has issued a final ultimatum to the state government over its failure to pay the N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative award. Despite assurances from Governor Alex Otti that new salaries would be paid once federal negotiations with organised labour concluded, workers have threatened to go on strike.

In a letter dated July 8, 2024, addressed to Governor Alex Otti through his Chief of Staff, and signed by Okoro Ogbonnaya, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State, and Enogwe Ihechi, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), organised labour threatened to strike on Monday, July 15, 2024.

DAILY POST reported that the decision to issue a final seven-day notice followed a general meeting on Monday, July 8. Organised labour stated that a previous 14-day ultimatum had expired without any government response to hold talks with labour to address the workers' demands.

In response to the Abia State government's apparent noncompliance with the national order, organised labour decided to initiate an indefinite strike.

The letter stated:

"Organised labour hereby issues this final seven (7) days ultimatum with effect from the day of receipt of this letter and states unequivocally, that at the expiration of this ultimatum, on Sunday 00hr, there shall be no further communication with the government.

Rather, the entire workforce of Abia State will proceed on indefinite strike beginning from Monday, 15th July, 2024."