Strike action looms in Abia State as the organized Labour in the State gives a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Alex Otti to pay the N30,000 national minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award approved for workers in the State by the federal government.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State chapter and Trade Union Congress in a letter addressed to Governor Alex Otti, seek for the full payment of the former N30,000 national minimum wage and the N35,000 wage award approved 8 months ago by the federal government to Abia workers without further delay.

The letter jointly signed by the NLC Chairman Abia State chapter, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro and his Secretary, Comrade Emma Alozie, the TUC Chairman, Abia State chapter Comrade Eneogwe Ikechi and Secretary, Comrade George Okogbuo, and Chairman and Secretary of the joint Negotiating council, Comrade Innocent Ekwenye and Comrade Oby Maduako read;

"Consequent upon the meeting held by thenational labour leadership on Monday May 20th, 2024 which the State councils were directed to issue 14-day ultimatum to various States governments who have not implemented the N30,000 former minimum wage and N35,000 palliative wage award.

"Furtherance to the directive, the organized Labour in the State comprising the NLC, TUC and JPSNC met on Wednesday, and noted with dismay the various challenges facing labour unions and their members in the State.

"These include non implementation of the former national minimum wage and N35,000 palliative wage award to Abia workers. The organized Labour observed with utmost regret that from 2019 till date, the Abia State government has failed to fully implement the national minimum wage as agreed upon by the organized Labour, government and employers in the private sector and gazetted by the federal government. Since the State government has continued to shun every attempt for further discussion on the minimum wage.

"The organized Labour also critically viewed the issue of non implementation of the N35,000 palliative wage award 8 months after its announcement by the State government as disheartening and this has dampened the morale of workers in the State.

"Since government is a continuum, your Excellency, you are humbly requested to put in place necessary machinery to kick start the process of implementing in full the N30,000 former national minimum wage and the N35,000 wage award within 14 days in line with the directive of the joint NEC meeting of the NLC and TUC".