Workers in Nasarawa state dare Gov Al-Makura on July 11 deadline

Organised labour unions in Nasarawa State, have directed state and local government workers to disregard the threat by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to sack any worker who did not resume work on Monday.


``The strike we started on July 4 is indefinite; disregard the call by the government to resume work on Monday, July 11,'' leaders of the workers unions said in a statement issued on Sunday in Lafia.

The statement was jointly signed by the Chairman of the State's chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Abubakar Adeka, and the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Mr Danladi Sabo-Namo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workers embarked on indefinite strike on July 4, to protest the decision of the government to cut down their salaries by 50 per cent.

On July 9, Al-makura threatened to replace the striking workers with freshly recruited graduates, if they failed to return to work on Monday

The statement advised the workers to remain at home while efforts were being made by organised labour unions to protect their rights.

``We are fighting to protect the rights of the workers and shall not relent until such rights are restored,'' the statement declared.

It said that workers were law abiding citizens and would continue to be so in the interest of peace and development of the state and the country.