By Victor Ahiuma-Young
TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has expressed worries over perceived disrespect for collective agreements by the government of Adamawa State. The body  urged the government to retrace its step to avoid industrial unrest in the state.

Specifically, the umbrella body for senior staff associations in Nigeria, demanded that Adamawa government should without delay, commence immediate processes for the approval, implementation and payment of all  members’ entitlements to avert an impending full scale industrial actions at the end of the mandatory 21-day ultimatum.

TUC in a statement by its President-General and Secretary-General, Comrade Peter Esele and Chief John Kolawole, respectively, read in part: “TUC, hereby, expresses its displeasure over the refusal of Adamawa State government to honour series of collective agreements it entered into with the organised labour in the state, and demands that all such agreements be respected in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.

“It is a sad development in our national clime for a democratically elected government that claims to champion and represent the cause of its citizens, including the working class, would turn around to thwart legitimate efforts aimed at uplifting them. It is even more worrisome that at a period such as this, when the nation is in the process of electing new leaders that the workers and their families who are part and parcel of this process are allowed to wallow in wants due our leader’s penchant to renege on signed agreements.

Call to arms

“We call on all Nigerian workers, especially those whose state governments are unfriendly to labour and welfare of the masses to rise up and demand for a change.

“TUC, therefore, demands that Adamawa State government should, without further delay, commence immediately the processes that will culmi- nate in the approval, implementation and payment of all our members’ entitlements so as to avert an impending full scale industrial actions at the end of the mandatory 21-day ultimatum.

Demands

“These are the 53.37 per cent pay relativity, the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, and the consolidated medical salary structure which the state government has been adamant on since June 2010, as well as the 2010 Leave Transport Grant.

“We may be compelled to direct our affiliates and states councils to frustrate moves by  all anti-workers governors  and other elected public officers from winning elections with all resources at our disposal should they fail to adhere to our  entreaties and  procedures.”