WORKERS in Cross River State under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (SJPSNC) embarked on a statewide strike on Tuesday, October 12, 2012 over a number of grievances.
The strike was suspended on Thursday, November 11, 2021 after the unions a day before entered into a Memorandum of Understanding mediated by the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council.
Below is the MOU:
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZED LABOUR (COMPRISING JOINT PUBLIC SERVICE NEGOTIATING COUNCIL (UNION SIDE), NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS AND TRADE UNION CONGRESS)
Arising from the industrial action declared by Organized Labour in the State with effect from Tuesday 12th October 2021, over lingering labour issues and the intervention of HRM, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, the Cross River State Government and the Organized Labour negotiated and arrived at the following RESOLUTIONS:
- That the implementation of promotions which is ongoing in the State with effect from September 2021, will end on or before August 2022 in both State and Local Government.
- That the State Government agreed to set aside a minimum of 50 million respectively monthly with effect from January 2022 for the payment of gratuities to both State and Local Government retirees with an additional allocation up to the maximum of that month’s and or year’s gratuity in any month and or year where the revenue inflows increase. Also a committee comprising both Government and Labour leaders to be set up for verification and payment.
- All remittances are ongoing in both State and Local Government. Subsequent deductions to be made alongside monthly salaries.
- That full implementation of minimum wage for workers would commence when the economy improves.
- That the balance of 27.5% to teachers shall be implemented when the economy improves.
- That the tax exemption and allowances for Teachers should be restored after the legitimate beneficiaries have been ascertained by April 2022.
- That annual incremental steps of both State and Local Government workers shall be restored with effect from January 2022.
- That the State Payroll is domesticated in Office of the Accountant-General, while the Local Government Payroll is decentralized and domesticated in SUBEB for teachers, PHCDA for health personnel, Ministry of Local Government Affairs for Staff of Councils and Local Government Pension Board for retirees. Actual salary payment is committed to the salary banks by Directors of Finance and Supplies of Councils.
- That the names of the affected Local Government workers have been restored to the payroll.
- That Local Government pensioners wrongly removed from the Payroll had been restored.
- That the lift of ban on collection of check-off dues by NURTW and return of motor parks was referred to the Special Adviser (Labour) and the Commissioner, Ministry of Transport for resolution.
- That the contract for supply of computers to workers should be terminated and a committee set up to ascertain the outstanding liabilities
- That the Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Director-General, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, should make a memo to His Excellency, the Governor, stating the financial implication on or before 31st March 2022 on payment of Hazard allowance and the balance of 30% CONHESS to medical and health workers.
- That the newly employed and verified but unpayrolled staff shall be payrolled effective January, 2022.
- That the Labour Leaders and workers would not be victimized as a result of their participation in the strike action.
- Dated 10th day of November 2021.
SIGNED
For Government Side: For Union Side:
Mrs Geraldine Akpet-Ekanem Comrade Godwin Otei
Head of service Chairman SJPSNC (Union Side)
Comrade Effiong Ita Umo Comrade Ben Ukpepi
Special Adviser (Labour) Chairman, NLC
Dr Samson S. Ogar Comrade Monday U. Ogbadum
Permanent Secretary Chairman, TUC
Ministry of Estab and Payroll
Mr. Gabriel F. Ikang Comrade Clarkson Out Esq
Permanent Secretary Secretary, SJPSNC
Ministry of Finance
Sir Joseph Adie Comrade Ita Ayi Obo
State Accountant-General State Secretary, NLC
Comrade John M. Odey Comrade Ken Bassey
Auditor-General (State) State Secretary (TUC)
Mrs Franka Inok
Auditor-General (Local Govt)
HRM, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet
Chairman, CRS Traditional Rulers’ Council
