By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—ORGANISED  labour  yesterday declared an indefinite strike in Benue State to protest alleged illegal deductions of workers’ salaries and the non- implementation of minimum wage for teachers and pensioners by the state government.

In a seven paragraph resolution in Makurdi, the state capital, by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, the state government was given up to the close of work yesterday to meet the demands of the aggrieved workers or face an indefinite action.

The resolution signed by Ordue Tartenger and Simon Anchaver, state chairmen of TUC and NLC respectively, read, “the NLC/ TUC after its joint meeting in-ssession resolved that government should refund the excess tax deductions from our members’ salaries since 2011.

“The joint session observed with dismay, the decision of government to unilaterally deduct workers salaries despite the position of the organised labour that it will resist any attempt to tamper with our salaries and we demand an immediate refund.

“We also demand that the three years Leave Transport Grant arrears owed our members by the state government should be paid forthwith. The session also observed with dismay the non- payment of minimum wage to pensioners, and the non implementation of 15 per cent and 21 per cent increment to pensioners; we demand that it is paid forthwith.

“Primary school teachers are also yet to enjoy the full implementation of the minimum wage, we demand that they should also be paid the minimum wage along with others workers.

“Furthermore, we also resolved that government should immediately refund all deductions made in respect of the National Housing Fund to our members. The joint session resolved that government should address all of these issues before the close of work today, (Wednesday) failing the organised labour will have no option than to call all her members to embark on an indefinite strike action commencing Thursday, 31 July 2014.”