Kogi workers call off six-week strike as gov assures Labour leaders

LOKOJA—STRIKING workers of Kogi State have called off their six weeks old strike that started at the twilight of former Governor Idris Wada’s administration, over unpaid salaries and other benefits. The workers at the Christmas eve went on strike to press home their demands for the payment of their three months’ salary arrears, stoppage of percentage salary payment to Local Government workers, nine months’ salary arrears to primary school teachers, and non-payment of leave allowances, among other demands. The workers, who had also accused the former governor of being secretive in the financial position of the state, said he (Wada) had been deceiving them in settling their salary arrears and other entitlements.

Vanguard however gathered that the decision to call off the strike on Tuesday followed a meeting between leaders of organized labour in the state and the new state governor, Yahaya Bello, where the government and workers reached a truce on how to tackle issues surrounding the face-off.

Lauding the action of the workers, Governor Bello thanked labour leaders for shelving the industrial action, and assured of his commitment to workers’ welfare, saying the decision to call off the strike was borne out of workers’ confidence in his government.

Speaking through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, the governor regretted the pathetic situation of the workers owed several months’ salaries arrears, promising that the government would find permanent solution to the issue.

He promised an open door policy with labour and reiterated his determination to pay salaries and pensions on the 25th day of every month.