The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State has strongly criticized the non-payment of salaries for local government workers since February, warning that failure to settle the outstanding wages by the end of March will force them to withdraw their services.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Port Harcourt, NLC Chairman Alex Agwanwor expressed frustration over the delayed payments, stating that the union would have no choice but to take action if the situation remains unresolved.
“We demand that the salaries of all local government workers be paid on or before the end of March, and the implementation of the minimum wage in all local government areas must be enforced by then,” Agwanwor declared.
He reaffirmed the Rivers State NLC’s support for the national leadership’s stance on the state of emergency in Rivers, emphasizing that workers should not suffer due to ongoing political tensions.
“The executive has also resolved that Rivers workers are not partisan and cannot suffer in the midst of all these crises,” he stated.
Agwanwor highlighted the severe financial hardship faced by workers, particularly those at the local government level, who have gone unpaid for months. He insisted that the state government must immediately implement the minimum wage law across all local governments.
“Workers’ salaries, most especially at the local government levels, have not been paid since February 2025 to date. We demand the immediate implementation of the minimum wage at the local government levels in Rivers State by the end of this month,” he stressed.
The NLC chairman warned that if the demands were not met, the union would begin mobilizing workers and take necessary steps to withdraw their services.
He urged the state government to prioritize workers’ welfare, ensuring that they are not negatively affected by the ongoing political crisis.
