Nasarawa state organised labour members. Photo: Chris Nyamtu/Radio Nigeria.
The Organized Labour in Nasarawa State has risen against Pension Contributory Bill about to be passed by the State House of Assembly.
The workers who turned out in large numbers marched to the State House of Assembly complex along Lafia Shendam Road disrupting free flow of traffic.
Over fifteen different unions under the Organized Labor including pensioners in Nasarawa State besieged the complex as early as 6am West African Time on Tuesday to register their grievances over a bill for the introduction of Contributory Pensions in the State Civil Service.
They displayed placards with inscriptions which includes “This Bill is anti-workers we can’t allow it to stand”, “Workers were not involved in processing the bill” and “House Why the Haste to Pass the bill” as they chanted solidarity songs.
In an interview, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ismaila Oko said they were reliably informed that the Lawmakers had concluded plans to pass the controversial Pension Contributory Bill for accent by the Governor hence the protest to stop the process.
He said the Unions found it difficult to reconcile themselves with the benefits of the bill to civil servants in the state if passed and signed into law, considering the failure of the Government to implement the national minimum wage.
Also, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Mohammed Doma said the bill if is passed would inflict more hardship on civil servants due to their meagre earnings.
After a long wait, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe addressed the workers and appealed to them to disperse the arena to give way for official business as there was no cause for alarm.
Reporting by Chris Nyamtu; Editing by Chinasa Ossai and Annabel Nwachukwu