The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has announced the suspension of its 17days old industrial action that commenced on the 12″ of January, 2024 in the six Area Councils and the LEA.
The union indicated that the strike was suspended following the timely intervention of the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike.
It would be recalled that the FCT branch of the union had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the FCT to pay its area councils’ staff arrears and other allowances.
The union had threatened to shut down government activities across the six area councils after the ultimatum elapsed without the council chairmen meeting their demands.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the emergency State Executive Council (SEC) meeting of the union which was held at the state secretariat in Gwagwalada, the union urged the six area council chairmen to pay all the outstanding allowances of its staff.
The union in the communiqué said despite having written several mails and interfaces with ALGON, the council chairmen failed to implement the 40 per cent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the 25 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), as well as federal government 35 per cent palliative for FCT area council’s unified staff.
It also held that the council chairmen also failed to remit pension deductions, corporative deductions, payment of hazard allowances, 35 per cent wage award, peculiar allowance and staff promotion arrears.
Apparently piqued by the failure of ALGON to meet their demands after the 7 days Ultimatum the union embarked on strike on the 12th January, following which activities in the 6 area councils were grounded.
However, in a statement issued by the Union’s secretary, Com. Ogueri Bridget, she stated that an agreement has been reached with the Minister that he will pay 40% of the total sum of the outstanding amounting to N2,793,338,491.81.
However, she said it is with a caveat that the payment will be on instulmental bases in four months arrears across the six area councils, while the Council Chairmen will pay 60% balance accruing to each area council totaling 44,190,007,723.28
It also quoted the Minister to have warned that failure to pay, the monthly allocation to the defaulting Area Council will be withheld and the said amount deducted at the source from JAAC.
“In the light of the above, I have been directed to inform you that the strike has been suspended with effect from 30° January, 2024 and you are expected to resume duty with immediate effect.