Enugu is regarded by many as a pace setter for the good, the bad and the ugly in labour matters. It was in Enugu that the police shot striking? Coal Miners in 1949 , killing 21 and wounding about 51 for demanding better? welfare packages .On the good side, Enugu state was once the Hen that laid? golden Eggs for Nigeria because of the abundance of Coal in the state.
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Perhaps, it was because of the ruggedness of past Labour leaders in Enugu that informed the recent decision of? the organized labour in Nigeria? to use? the state as a test case for states that have refused to implement the N18,000 Minimum Wage approved by the Federal Government.
Few days ago, precisely, Thursday 9th this year, the organized labour led by the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Abdulawahid Omar declared the mother of all strikes in Enugu to protest the refusal of the state government to implement fully the N18,000 minimum wage.
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The declaration of the strike followed series of failed negotiations on the new wage between Enugu State Government and Labour leaders.
Apparently dissatisfied with the outcomes of past negotiations between the state government and labour leaders in the state, the national leadership of organized labour gave the state government a two week ultimatum last month to implement the minimum wage or be prepared to face the mother of all strikes.
Prior to the ultimatum, the national leadership of organized labour had mandated a delegation led by Deputy President of NLC, comrade Kiri Muhammed to take over the negotiations for the new wage? from the state labour leaders.
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The failure of the? delegation to reach a compromise with the state government as well as the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum forced leaders of organized labour led by the president of NLC,? to storm Enuguon? wednesday, a day to the declaration of the strike? for a mother of all rallies.
But, the labour leaders paid for their stubbornness as they were held hostage from Wednesday night to Thursday morning by a policemen and soldiers.
The labour leaders including the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), comrade. Abdullawahid Omar and National Chairman of Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Peter Esele were prevented from going out of the Gold Value Hotel where they lodged in the morning by the stern looking policemen who were fully armed .???????? ?
When the labour leaders tried to find out why they were detained, the security men were said to have told them that they were instructed not to allow them to got out of the hotel.
Sensing danger, the labour leaders were said to have made series of? calls to the? presidency for their release.
One of the Labour leaders told our correspondent that the presidency intervened before they were released after several hours in detention embattled labour leaders? release at about 11 am on the fateful day.
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Angered by the ugly development, the National President of NLC, Omar Abdulawahid, who led the labour delegation to Enugu,? told public servants at the Workers` Freedom Sqaure in Enugu,? that the strike which he said had taken immediate effect was not an ordinary strike.
“On behalf of labour movement in Nigeria, an industrial action is hereby declared, this is not just an ordinary strike, all essential duties must be stopped.” He said.
Omar disclosed that organized labour had resolved to use Enugu State as a test case for all the states? all in? the South East Zone.
He stated that Banks, Airlines, Filling Stations, PHCN, Water Corporations, among others have promised to join the indefinite strike.
Omar alleged that the governor of Enugu State wanted to “ act differently from other states in Nigeria ” and vowed to resist any attempt to enslave the workers.
He disclosed that organized labour had already received assurances from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)that it would join the indefinite strike.
Omar advised all the airlines in the country to stop operations to Enugu , warning that? no airline would be allowed to land? in Enugu State or take off from the state until the strike is called off. ?
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He stated that if Governor Sullivan refuses to negotiate with Labour on the new minimum wage, neighboring states would be directed to commence solidarity strike. ?
He advised workers in the state to regard the recent increment to their salaries as bonuses, insisting that Enugu State Government must sit down and discuss.
National Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Peter Esele in his contribution,? stated that the indefinite strike in Enugu was a signal to other states who were yet to pay the minimum wage.
He disclosed that Enugu must be forced to be a pace setter for other states.
But, the commissioner of police in Enugu State, Doma Danazumi the policemen were stationed at Gold Value Hotel to protect the labour leaders and not to detain them.
He further disclosed that the decision to deploy the policemen to the hotel was informed by the high rate of insecurity in the country.
Reacting to their detention , Omar told Leadership that labour would not be intimidated by anybody. ?
He confirmed? that? they were held hostage by? soldiers and policemen since Wednesday night , adding that they were warned not to? move out of the hotel the next day.
But,? Enugu State Government in its reaction, said the strike was uncalled for.
It however, said that was still ready for negotiations, regretting that Labour ordered for strike despite the fact that Enugu? was the only state in the South East? that has complied with the implementation of the minimum wage. ?
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“ The attention of Enugu State Government? has been drawn to the reports that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered workers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike action over the implementation of the minimum wage.
“This is, to say the least, uncalled for and quite unfortunately beats the imagination why the labour leaders should give such a directive even when it is on record that the Enugu
State Government remains the only one in the geo-political zone to have fully complied with the implementation of the payment of the minimum wage.
“The implementation was reflected in the payment of the workers’ salaries for the month of August and this is verifiable, Governor Sullivan Chime had even approved N18,500 as the minimum wage payable in the State. The Enugu State Government will continue to pay priority attention to the welfare of its workforce and that explains why it is the fourth state in the federation to have implemented the National Health Insurance Scheme. Government shall remain open to negotiation as a civilized way to resolving whatever grey areas with the workforce. ” a statement signed by? Chuks Ugwoke, Commissioner for Information said.
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Although many people took the threat by Labour to shut down Enugu with a pinch of salt, our correspondent who has been monitoring the strike discovered that activities have been paralysed as banks and providers of essential services have refused to offer services to the people
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