Labour Gives Cross River Government 14-Day Ultimatum Over Unmet Worker Demands
By NINI NDUONOFIT-AKOH
ORGANISED Labour in Cross River State has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government, warning that it will resume its suspended strike if long-standing labour grievances remain unresolved.
In a letter to Governor Bassey Otu, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the State Joint Negotiating Council (SJNC) expressed frustration that four months after suspending their 17 July 2025 strike notice, no meaningful progress has been made. The unions said multiple meetings with the Head of Service and the Accountant-General have yielded no concrete commitments.
Labour also criticised the government’s silence, noting that they have been unable to meet the governor since December 2024. Following a joint meeting on 19th November, the unions activated a fresh 14-day ultimatum effective 27th November, demanding urgent intervention.
Their unresolved issues include salary disparities between state and local government workers, delayed LGA salaries, pending promotions, pension harmonisation, exclusion of labour from key government engagements, disputes involving health workers, concerns over the Accountant-General’s handling of welfare matters, and the implementation of various wage structures and allowances.
The unions urged the government to act swiftly to preserve industrial peace. As of press time, the state had yet to reach out to labour, and calls to the governor’s Special Adviser on Labour went unanswered. The ultimatum expires on 10th December 2025.
