Forget 15% salary increase: FG tells workers - Workers set for showdown.
- [ 16/05/2007
]
The meeting, held at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) conference room, lasted more than six hours without reaching an agreement on the issue.
The JNPSNC had threatened to mobilise workers for a nationwide strike following a government circular that the 15 per cent salary increase could not be implemented as earlier contained in the government’s White Paper and circular to that effect.
Following the first day of workers’ rally held at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, the Federal Government invited the workers’ leaders to a meeting meant to avert the nationwide strike and asked them to present a memo on their position ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
However, at Tuesday’s meeting held behind closed doors, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that the government side, having studied the union’s memo and listened to their position, declared that government had realised that due to cost implication, it could not pay the 15 per cent salary increase from January 1, 2007.
This position was rejected by the union leaders who cited the severance allowance to be given to each member of the National Assembly as an example of government wastage.
They also resolved to go ahead with their mobilisation against the government position and would address a press conference on their next line of action tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the government side has urged the JNPSNC to be peaceful in their approach and make sure they do not disturb public peace, especially before the handover date on May 29, 2007.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) will today meet to deliberate on whether or not to join the two-day sit at home ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest against the 2007 elections which they claim were massively rigged.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that though the leadership of TUC might want to align with the NLC position and directive to workers, its affiliate unions might resist the move.
NEWS UPDATE 
