Minimum wage: Workers’ strike paralyses government activities

Workers in Ogun State commenced a one-week warning strike yesterday over alleged non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

Daily Trust correspondent, who monitored the industrial action, observed that the government’s activities were grounded across the state.

Labour leaders had as early as 6 am mobilised their members and stormed various government ministries, agencies, and parastatals to enforce compliance with the strike.

The main gate at the state secretariat, Oke- Mosan,

Abeokuta, was blocked with labour union vehicles to stop workers from resuming work, just as those who arrived early were asked to return home.

Our correspondent observed unusual presence of security operatives at the secretariat to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Apart from permanent secretaries, directors, and top echelons in the civil service who were at work, there was highlevel compliance by workers in the junior cadre.

It was also gathered that all the headquarters of the 20 local government areas were grounded in compliance with the union’s directive.

The labour leaders had last week given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to start payment of the new minimum wage. And the ultimatum ended on Tuesday.

The strike was declared shortly after negotiation talks between the government team, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, and the labour leaders at the governor’s office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, ended in a deadlock.

As Daily Trust gathered, the government told the labour team that minimum wage implementation would be delayed until the state was financially buoyant.