Kwara State Water Corporation Workers begin indefinite strike

Workers of Kwara State Water Corporation on Tuesday embarked on indefinite strike following the refusal of the management to pay their four months’ salary. The workers under the aegis Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) accused the management of not paying September to December 2015 salaries. Chairman of the union, Murtala Kadir told newsmen that the workers would not return to their duty post until their four months salaries were fully paid.

He also accused the management of not remitting deductions of workers cooperative dues from February to July 2015, which he said totaled N40.2 million. “Also, three months outstanding arrears of N3, 000 salary increments of workers on grade level 07 and above amounting to N1.890 million were not paid,” Kadir said.

The chairman complained that workers due for promotion from 2013 to 2015 were not promoted. He accused the management of not remitting deductions of union dues from November 2014 to December 2015 to the account of the union. Kabir also accused the management of non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deducted from the workers’ salaries to the NHF office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers converged at the entrance of the corporation as early as 6.45 am, locked the gate and chase workers out of the offices. The leadership of the union had earlier appealed to the management of the corporation to pay all their entitlements and effect the promotion of workers due for promotion. The Commissioner for Water Resources Rasak Akorede, pleaded with them to resume work and promised them that government would look into their plight.