The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Zamfara Chapter, said that the union would embark on a total strike on Monday following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum given to the state government by the association

The Chairman NLC, Zamfara Chapter, Bashir Mafara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Gusau.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the NLC had given the state government three weeks ultimatum to address the problems of workers in the state.

Some of the workers grievances with the state government include the non-implementation of workers annual increments, promotion and the non-payment of 1, 400 newly recruited staff recruited more than three years ago.

Other issues according to the NLC, is that refusal of the government to implement minimum wage for local government staff and primary school teachers as well as non- payment of pensioners’ gratuities.

The NLC said it was worrisome that primary school teachers and local government workers in Zamfara state were still receiving between N7,500 and N8,000 as monthly salary.

The NLC chairman said that the union has been having consultations with the government officials, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Shinkafi, on how to resolve the issues.

He said that the government had failed to meet up with any of the agreement reached between the workers and the state government.

“Therefore, we are starting the strike tomorrow, Monday as announced three weeks ago.

“We have already announced that all the representatives of the NLC affiliated unions should meet tomorrow at NLC Secretariat by 10.00 am to mark the commencement of the strike”, he said.

Mr. Mafara, therefore, urged all workers to stay away from their places of works from tomorrow until the problems were addressed by the government.

NAN also recalls that the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Dosara, had earlier told journalists that the 21-day ultimatum was uncalled for.

Mr. Dosara maintained that Governor Abdul’aziz Yari had since directed the labour leaders in the state to come up with an authentic list of workers under the state government payroll without which the state government would not implement their demands.

(NAN)

Ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, voter cards have become a precious commodity in the state.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that politicians were buying the cards for N5,000 each, depending on location.

In rural communities, the cards were sold for N5, 000 each while in urban areas owners of PVCs could make between N7,000 and N10,000 per card.

Corroborating our investigation, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Progressive Alliance in the November poll, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute such politicians according to extant laws.

He reminded eligible voters in the state not to mortgage their conscience and future by selling their voter cards.

He said buying and selling of voter cards were a major challenge facing the poll, noting that the acts were being perpetuated by vicious politicians.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to step up political enlightenment to educate voters on the negative impact of selling their PVCs.


Ezeemo, who spoke at his country home, Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of the state during a solidarity visit to him by youths of the old Aguata union on Thursday, advised the youths that it was their civic responsibility to use their votes to make positive change in the state.

He said, “It is your duty to make the rightful choice and as well ensure that the right person govern the state. As youths, you should shun greedy politicians whose stock in trade is to engage some of you, our future leaders, as thugs in order to actualise their selfish political ambition.”

He said, “Some people say poverty is responsible for the sale of their voter cards but I disagree with such position in that people should know that such act is criminal act.

“It is better for the people to tackle poverty by choosing the right leaders based on their ability and not based on monetary consideration.”


He urged voters to guard jealously their voter cards and come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise in the election.

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