Calabar, Nigeria – Workers in Cross River State have defied Governor Bassey Otu’s appeal and shut down all public offices in the state over the non-implementation of the new N70000 National Minimum Wage.
Converseer reports that all government-owned offices, including the State Secretariat at Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar, were under lock and key, on Monday, November 25.
Other important offices shut down were the State High Court at Mary Slessor Avenue and the Ministry of Information and Orientation at Cultural Centre Road – all in Calabar, the state capital.
Government offices across the 18 Local Government Areas were also shut down.
Just like every other office, two bulletins from the Organised Labour were pasted at the entrance of the Ministry of Information and Orientation.
Bulletin 1 signed by the Organised Labour Action Committee and dated November 20, read: “Whereas Organised Labour in the State, having listened to briefings from her representatives in the State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. And Whereas the General Congress, having extensively deliberated on the issue, hereby resolved as follows: 1. That AlI Workers in Cross River State commence a 2-day Warning Strike Action, beginning from midnight of Sunday the 24th of November, to Tuesday 26th November, 2024. 2. All affiliates of both NLC and TUC are to mobilise their members for full compliance.”
Bulletin 2 also signed by the Organised Labour Action Committee and dated November 22, read: “Following Government’s inability to show greater commitment in the negotiation of consequential adjustments as it affects the New National Minimum Wage implementation in the State… And whereas Congress gave notice of a 2-day warning Strike action; All workers are by this Bulletin directed to stay at home on Monday November 25th and Tuesday November 26th 2024 in full compliance with Congress decision.”
Converseer reported earlier that Governor Otu had appealed with the Workers not to embark on the two-day warning strike.
Otu who spoke through Deputy Governor Peter Odey during the 5th edition of the State Solemn Assembly held on Saturday, November 23, at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, said he is committed to improving working conditions for both serving and retired workers.
He also mentioned that Cross River State was among the first states in Nigeria to increase the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦40,000, even before the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a ₦70,000 new national minimum wage.
Recall that the Governor was among those selected by President Bola Tinubu to deliberate on the new National Minimum Wage.
