The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has called on the Kwara government and the organised labour in the state to urgently engage in dialogue over the industrial action currently being embarked upon by workers.
The call was made by NIPR, in a statement issued by its state Chairman, Dr Saudat Abdulbaki and the General Secretary, Alhaji AbdulRahman Sanni, on Wednesday in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers in the state had, on Tuesday, commenced an indefinite strike as over non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage by the state government.
NAN also reports that bill on the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, 2019
The law has made it mandatory for employers of labour in both the public and private sectors to pay N30,000 as minimum wage.
According to NIPR, both government and labour should pave way for meaningful dialogue to fast track amicable resolution of the ongoing strike in the state.
“We see it as part of the institute’s corporate social responsibility to call for sincerity of purpose among the two parties to restore industrial harmony in the state,” the organisation said.
While stating that the current situation in the state should not be allowed to result in communication breakdown between the government and the labour unions, it called on government to be sincere in the opening of its books in order to restore peace.
The body advised the state government to always be proactive in the implementation of its programmes and policies through constant engagement of all critical stakeholders.
It noted that no meaningful development could be attained in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.
