Organised labour in Kwara State, yesterday defied court injunction stopping them from calling out workers on strike.

The Guardian observed that over 80 per cent of government workers complied with labour’s directive to go on strike following the failure of the state government to pay them the N30,000 new minimum wage.

On Monday, the National Industrial Court (NIC), Akure, granted an ex parte order restraining labour from proceeding on strike following disagreements with the state government on the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage.

This came after labour directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike from Tuesday unless the government acceded to their demands.

But the state government insisted that it would only pay what it could afford.

labour’s ultimatum expired midnight Monday without the state government acceding to the request.

When The Guardian visited some government offices, including the two state secretariats, the local government service commission, civil service commission, teaching service commission, ministries and the courts, they were all under lock and key.

It was the same scenario in public primary and secondary schools visited.

Most teachers in compliance with labour’s directive refused to report for work while the few ones who showed up were seen outside discussing in groups.

Students, who were in the schools, were disappointed as there were no teachers to teach them.
Speaking to reporters, the state Chairman of NLC Comrade Aliyu Issa –Ore, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the workers.

He urged the workers to remain resolute and not be discouraged or disturbed by alleged attacks on their leaders by thugs.

Meanwhile, the state government in a statement by the Head of Service, Mrs. Susan Okuwole, urged all civil servants to resume work, assuring them that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee their individual and collective safety.