Pankshin (Plateau) – Schools and local government secretariats in Plateau were sealed up by labour leaders following the commencement of strike by workers over non-payment of salaries by the state government.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Plateau Chapter, has declared the beginning of the strike from 12.00 mid night, to press home demand for payment of backlog of salary arrears, amongst others.
In Pankshin, Mangu, Kanke councils, secretariats and public primary and secondary schools are under lock and key.
As early as 7. 00 a.m., the NLC, NUT and NULGE leaders were at the schools and council secretariats and demanded from the security men all the keys to the offices and subsequently locked the gates.
Some students, who were not aware of the development, went to schools only to be stopped and sent back home, while boarding students were seen packing their luggage and heading home.
Principal officers of the councils, including chairmen, secretaries and directors, were not allowed access into the secretariats by the union leaders.
Mr Pankyes Benwuk, Pankshin NULGE Chairman, told newsmen that the strike was “indefinite“ and would only be called off if the state government would meet their demands.
“This government seems not to have the interest of its workers at heart by the way and manner it is treating us.
“It seems the government is only interested in using us for politics and nothing else; if not, for over four or six months, some workers were working without receiving their salaries, “ he said.
Benwuk said that non-implementation of the Minimum Wage at the councils, “unending” bi metric exercise for staff and non-payment of salaries were the main crux of the strike.