Labour Threatens Strike Over Alleged Victimisation Of Workers

Akwa Ibom State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has resolved to embark on strike in solidarity with four workers of the State Assembly Service Commission (ASC), demobilised to roam in the main civil service without proper postings over allegation of workplace diabolism.

Besides, the NLC said the proposed strike became necessary to press for the implementation of the N32,000 cash addition to all pensioners as directed by the National Income and Wages Commission (NIWC), which the state has refused to pay.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the decision to resort to strike expected to commence from Monday, September 14, 2025, barring last minutes intervention, was reached during the 3rd Quarter Meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) at the Workers’ Solidarity Centre (WSC), Atan Offot, Uyo, the state capital.

The communique at the end of the meeting signed by the state NLC chairman, Comrade Sunny James, and made available to our Correspondent on Wednesday, frowned at alleged government’s insensitivity to the plights of the affected workers and pensioners.

The communique explains that the strike became the last resort “following the disagreement and the inability to reach amicable resolutions in meetings on matters affecting the four staff posted from the Assembly Service Commission to the Civil Service Commission without following the laid-down procedures as stated in the Public Service Rules, Assembly Service Commission Staff Handbook, ILO Service Document, the 1999 Constitution as amended, etc.

guiding such postings.

“Also, the refusal to implement the N32,000, as directive from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NIWA) circular of September 27, 2024, for addition to all pensioners as agreed and recommended to His Excellency after the 2024 minimum wage agreement.

“In view of the fore-going therefore, the State Executive Council (SEC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State Council met to deliberate on the matters and make the following observations and resolutions:

“That on the House of Assembly, wrongful postings, the Council rejects the postings from the Assembly Service Commission to the Civil Service Commission by the Head of Civil Service without any regards to the Public Service Rules, other laws and the leadership of the Assembly Service Commission.

“That the posted workers were rejected by the new MDAs thereby making them to be re-posted to four different MDAs between 2023 to 2025 because they had no need of such manpower and not even in response to an advertised vacancies as stated in the rules.

“That it was wrong to post out four staff and the pay point of one of them was retained in the Assembly complex for another one year till retirement in 2024, thereby creating room for discriminatory actions in the Service.

“That the Assembly Service Commission who understood that the workers are their own, had to invite them for the 2024 Promotion Interview as evidenced in the staff promotion letters of September 09, 2024 since the new MDAs had no power to conduct such service incentives of workers.

That the lame excuse advance by the government representatives labeling the affected workers as being diabolic at the place of work is not only insulting but totally unacceptable.

That the remaining three workers roaming in the State Service be returned immediately to the Assembly Service Commission where their service records exist in order not to be shortcharged especially in retirement.

“The Council observed that the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Chairman’s directives that the sum of Thirty-two Thousand Naira (N32,000) across board be added to all Pensioners as a result of the 2024 Minimum Wage increment through a Circular dated September 27, 2024.

“That the State Minimum Wage and Verification Committee adopted the circular and recommended same to His Excellency after the negotiations as could be seen in the agreement.

“That His Excellency had further directed the Verification Committee to ascertain the exact number of Pensioners in the State whose work was completed in that regards since April, 2025.

“That Council is saddened as nothing is being heard since then despite NLC appeals and letters dated August 01, 2025 and August 28, 2025 on the subject,” the communique read.

Consequently, the NLC directed all affiliates to begin the mobilisation of members and pensioners to a mass protest on Monday, September 15, 2025 signaling the beginning of the service withdrawal in the entire state.