The Taraba State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE) has finally arrived at a decision to paralyze government activities in the sixteen local government councils of the state by embarking on an indefinite strike.
The industrial action which commences onTuesday is aimed at pressing home their demands which the state government has in the past turned deaf ears to.
Before arriving at a collective decision to down their working implements, series of ultimatums as noticed by Quick News Africa, were issued to the government by the leadership of the union which were however swept under the carpet.
In one of the ultimatum which was made available to out state correspondent, the union expressed dismay with the way and manners local government workers in the state are being treated like second class citizens by the government.
In spite of the predicaments council workers are going through, NULGE felt dejected that the state government did not deemed it relevant to herald smiles on the faces of the workers even after the much awaited bailout fund was doled out to the state by the Federal Government.
The earlier ultimatum which was signed by the union state secretary, Garba Adamu, said the union ” observed with dismay that, the government expanded the bailout without a second thought to pay the arrears of the salaries for the local government workers.”
Believing that government action towards the workers is” aimed at crippling the local government workers financially despite the forthcoming festivity (Yuletide) ” the union, they vowed would harness relevant measures to discourage government from relegating to the background council workers.
In the said statement, the union further felt sad at “the insensitivity of the state government towards the demand of the union” adding that NULGE ” will have no option than to embark on indefinite strike action commencing from 8th December, 2015.”
Relevant plans as made known to Quick News Africa by the union secretary, have been put in place at the entire councils to ensure effective compliance of the industrial action.
The secretary who vowed that no amount of threat, intimidation and harassment would compel the union to cease from pressing home their demands through the strike said ” as far as we are concern, there is no going back.”
Some of the leadership of the union at the various councils who bared their minds to our reporter, said the strike action has become necessary due to the refusal of the government to play its constitutional role by reciprocate the hand of friendship extended to them by the council workers.
When reached for comment, the Chief of Staff to the state government, Rebo Usman, said the state government is not lying on its oars, as relevant steps to spread smiles on workers faces, according to him is being fashion out by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
Quick News Africa investigation shows that apart from NULGE that has collectively decided to take the bull by the horn, other union leaders are as well not sleeping with their tow eyes tenaciously closed as they are as well at the verge of mobilizing their unions to tread the path of NULGE.
