Plateau workers reach agreement with government, suspend strike after two months

Civil servants in Plateau state have suspended the two-month-old strike they embarked upon to press for their demands from the state governments. 

The workers had embarked on an indefinite strike on May 11 after the state government failed to meet their demands, which included payment of salaries and other entitlements.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Titus Malau, chairman of the Plateau state chapter of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), directed workers to resume work on Monday.

He said the decision to suspend the strike was taken after the union’s meeting with the state’s officials where some agreements on their demands were reached.

“The indefinite strike declared by the union is hereby suspended with effect from July 14, 2023, and workers of both state and local governments are directed to resume work on Monday, July 17, 2023,” he said.

“The technical committee on salary structure shall resume sitting to conclude the salary structure immediately after resumption of work.

“However, there are challenges of payment of March 2023 salary, which the union’s leadership will follow up to ensure that all are resolved.”

Malau said based on the council and government’s agreement, the balance of salaries for the month of February had been paid.

The chairman said the government had also issued a circular directing all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to implement all promotions with immediate effect.

He added that the government had concluded work on the consolidated salary table for state civil servants, which had been signed by both parties.

“The government has prepared a salary spreadsheet for the month of March 2023 capturing arrears of annual increment for January and February 2022, the same has been presented to the unions,” he said.

“The payment of salary for the month of March would commence on July 4, 2023, after staff verification, and that the salaries of April and May would be paid in the same manner as March, immediately funds are available.”

Malau said the council had met with chairmen of the 17 LGAs in the state, noting that they had agreed that the government would also pay the arrears of salaries of local government employees.

He said they had also agreed that the government would restore the payment of domestic staff allowance to officers on grade levels 15 and 16, along with the June salary.

According to Malau, an agreement was reached that upon the release of promotions and annual increments, the government would effect payments thereof, from July.