Lawmakers Intervene In Strike

The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Monday resolved to intervene in the face-off between the state chapter of the NLC and the state government over the implementation of the new national minimum wage.

The Speaker, Alhaji Mu’azu Gangara, announced this at an emergency session over the impasse in Kaduna.

Gangara said that a nine-member ad hoc committee had been constituted by the legislature to intervene and resolve the misunderstanding amicably.

He said the Deputy Speaker Matoh Dogara would lead the panel, while the chairmen of eight other relevant standing committees would serve as members.

The other committee members were drawn from education, finance, judiciary, establishment, economic planning, public petitions, security and information.

This decision followed a motion raised by Mr. Philemon Gidanmana (PDP-Makera), which was seconded by Alhaji Bala Ayuba (CPC-Tudun Wada).

The legislators pointed out that the crisis was capable of grounding the state machinery and expose citizens to avoidable hardships.

Commenting on the motion, Malam Mohammed Ali (CPC-Kawo) said there was no need for government to drag its feet because the issue was already a national law.

While describing the N18,000 new national minimum wage as a “slave wage”, Ali suggested that the Office of the Head of Service should furnish the House with details of the matter within one week.

In his contribution, Malam Mustapha Bawa (CPC-Zaria City) flayed the delay tactics adopted by the state government and advised it to implement the policy to prevent unpleasant consequences occasioned by industrial actions.

Bawa pointed out that N18,000 would not settle the living bills of a bachelor per month.

On his part, Mr. Irmiya Kantiok, (PDP-Zonkwa) called for a dialogue and truce between the two actors to end the labour crisis in the interest of the state and her people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the ad hoc committee immediately went into a close door meeting to fashion out the intervention strategies.

Meanwhile, the NLC had picketed the state secretariat and other government offices in Kaduna metropolis to enforce its strike among members.