JUST IN: Kano Workers threaten 7 days warning strike over salary deduction

By Tukur Sani

The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued 14 days ultimatum to Kano State Government over deduction of workers Salary from the month of May.

Solacebase reports that Kano State Government had deducted workers salary in the month of May attributing it to COVID-19 pandemic.

Although there was no official statement from the state government when the salary deduction took place, a source told Solacebase that the government had to revert to the old salary rate of N18, 000 as against N30,000 minimum wage noting that the wage bill was too enormous for it.

Solacebase gathered that most of the workers were surprised when they collected their May salary only to discover that about 20% was deducted from their take-home pay.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Kano NLC Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said the state government with the action violated the existing minimum wage law 2019  which is a product of tripartite committee agreement sent to the legislature by the executive body and sign by President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari.

He expressed surprise that the deduction of the workers’ salary was without the knowledge of the unions.

Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said that labour rejected any plans by Kano State government to continue deducting workers Salary in subsequent months on claims of fighting COVID-19.

The NLC in a Communique signed by 13 workers Union chairmen, said failure by Kano State Government to meet its demand within 14 working days effective from Wednesday 27th May 2020 to Monday 15th June, workers would be left with no option than embark on the strike action.