The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kwara State chapter, has urged the state government to immediately release the November 2024 salaries that have been withheld for workers across all 16 local government areas.
The call follows widespread dissatisfaction from employees, particularly those from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), many of whom have yet to receive their pay for November.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Comrade Isiah Elachochi-Eigege, the NLC Secretary in Kwara, revealed that around 75 percent of affected workers, primarily local government employees, have not been paid.
The delay has been linked to the workers’ failure to complete registration with the Kwara State Resident Registration Agency (KWSRRA), a requirement imposed by the state government earlier in the year.
The NLC warned that if the outstanding salaries were not paid, industrial unrest could erupt, with workers prepared to take action.
“The Kwara State workers under the umbrella of the NLC wish to draw the attention of the state government to the non-payment of November 2024 salaries,” the statement read.
“It is surprising that more than 75 percent of workers in the state, primarily local government employees, have not received their salaries for November 2024.”
The NLC also made it clear that they would not accept the payment of December salaries without first clearing the outstanding November wages. The union has set a deadline of Thursday, December 19, 2024, for the government to resolve the issue. Should the government fail to act, the NLC threatened to invoke labor laws and declare a total shutdown of the state.
In response, the Kwara State government reiterated its position on the matter. In a statement issued earlier this month, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the state Commissioner for Finance, explained that the delay in salary payments was due to some workers’ failure to complete their registration with KWSRRA.
She emphasized that the registration process, which had been open for over six months, was essential for ensuring payroll integrity and improving public accountability.
Nuru added that while many state government workers had already received their November salaries, some local government workers and teachers were still awaiting payment. She encouraged affected workers to visit the nearest KWSRRA offices to resolve any pending issues.
Despite the government’s explanation, the NLC rejected this reasoning, arguing that the delay in salary payments was unacceptable and calling for swift action to resolve the matter.
The NLC’s statement concluded by urging the state government to expedite the payment process to prevent further disruption and maintain the good reputation of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration regarding prompt salary payments.
