The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kwara State chapter, has called on the state government to release the withheld November 2024 salaries of workers across the 16 local government areas. In a statement issued on Tuesday, NLC Secretary Comrade Isiah Elachochi-Eigege revealed that over 75 percent of the affected workers, including those from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, have yet to receive their wages.

The delay is linked to the workers’ failure to complete registration with the Kwara State Resident Registration Agency (KWSRRA), a requirement mandated earlier this year by the state government.

The union is urging Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene and ensure the payment of the overdue salaries. The NLC warned that failure to resolve the issue could result in industrial unrest. “We call on the state government to effect the full payment of November 2024 salaries to avoid invoking labor laws for a total shutdown of the state,” the statement read. Additionally, the NLC rejected the idea of paying December salaries before clearing the outstanding November wages and set a deadline for resolution by Thursday, December 19, 2024.

The state government, in response, reiterated that the delay was due to some workers not completing their KWSRRA registration. Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the Commissioner for Finance, stated on December 2, 2024, that most state government workers had received their November salaries, with the remaining payments being processed. She emphasized that the registration process, which had been open for over six months, is essential for ensuring payroll integrity and public accountability. Nuru also advised the affected workers to visit KWSRRA offices to finalize their registration.

While the NLC acknowledges the registration requirement, it continues to pressure the state government to expedite the payment process to avoid a looming crisis.