Construction workers in Nigeria have declared a three-day warning strike from February 5.
Gatekeepers News reports that the strike was declared due to the non-implementation of wage awards by employers.
The workers under the aegis of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) and the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), announced the ultimatum in a joint statement issued on Friday.
The statement was jointly signed by Ibrahim Walama, NUCECFWW general secretary, and Tony Egbule, acting general secretary of CCESSA.
On October 1, 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved N35,000 as the provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid workers for six months.
The provisional wage was meant to be paid to workers for six months to relieve the hardship caused by the petrol subsidy removal.
The Union in the statement, said the decision to embark on the strike was reached at the joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of both associations held on January 25.
The associations said their employers had refused to discuss with them the implementation of the wage award agreed between the federal government and organised labour.
The statement read, “The Joint NEC of both unions has directed all members (NUCECFWW/CCESSA) to proceed on a three-day warning strike starting from Monday, February 5, 2024, in the first instance to press home our demand.
“Consequent upon the above, all members across board are advised to ensure total compliance.”
The associations further urged officials and members of both unions to “constantly check the relevant platforms of NUCECFWW and CCESSA for necessary information and further directives.”
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had reportedly called for a meeting between the workers and their employers.
The minister, however, reportedly alleged that the workers did not send representatives to attend the meeting.
