The planned indefinite strike by the organized labour in Abia State, set to begin on Monday, has been postponed following two days of intensive negotiations.
According to Daily Post, these discussions involved the Abia State government, organized labour leaders, and the joint negotiation council.
The negotiations concluded with a communique stating that the Abia State government agreed to a N15,000 wage award for civil servants for three months, starting from the end of July 2024.
This agreement was signed by Calab Ajagba, Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, along with two other government representatives.
On behalf of the labour, NLC Chairman Okoro Ogbonnaya, TUC Chairman Ihechi Enogwe, and others signed the communique. The joint negotiation council was chaired by I.M. Ekwenye.
Labour leaders contended that Abia workers were receiving only N20,100 as a minimum wage, while the state government asserted that records indicated the payment of N30,000 to civil servants.
During the dialogue, the state government clarified the rationale behind the cancellation of command promotions issued by the previous administration under Okezie Ikpeazu, stating it was necessary to maintain order in the civil service.
Both parties agreed to commence promotions for all eligible civil servants soon.
The government also acknowledged the challenge of paying off the 16.5 billion naira debt owed to workers in various institutions and parastatals by the previous administration.
They committed to seeking approval from the state House of Assembly for a virement to pay the debt in installments.
Discussions also touched on staff verifications and the payment of retired Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Abia State civil service. However, no consensus was reached
“This Memorandum of Understanding was reached on Saturday, July 13th, 2024, between the Abia State Government and Organised Labour Unions.
“The discussions primarily focused on key issues affecting Abia State workers, including minimum wage payments, wage awards, and various other matters of mutual interest.
“Minimum Wage: The parties agreed that the Office of the State Accountant General will collaborate with Organised Labour to reconcile discrepancies in wage records. The Government asserts that it pays in accordance with the N30,000 national minimum wage, while Organised Labour claims the actual payment is N20,100. A reconciliation process will be completed within 7 days.
“Command Promotion:Concerning command promotions, it was clarified that recent reversals aimed to restore order within the State Civil Service, addressing past abuses by political actors. Both parties agreed that regular promotions conducted under established due process and Civil Service guidelines will proceed as scheduled. The Government committed to initiating these promotions promptly.
“Payment of Outstanding Salary Arrears:The Government disclosed challenges in settling outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of parastatals and institutions, amounting to N16.5 billion. It pledged to fulfill its earlier commitment gradually, seeking legislative support for funding virement to facilitate arrears payment over time.
“Severance Allowances: A directive was issued to the Accountant General to expedite payment of severance allowances to retired Permanent Secretaries and Directors.
“Workers’ Certificates and Verification: The State Head of Service and the Accountant General will collaborate with Organised Labour to address issues arising from ongoing verification exercises across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“Leave Allowances:The Accountant General, in coordination with the Head of Service and MDA personnel heads, will ensure timely payment of leave allowances to eligible staff.
“This MoU underscores the commitment of both parties to enhancing industrial harmony and improving welfare standards for workers in Abia State,” it read in part.
