Nigerian Defence Industries Workers Mull Protest Over Unpaid Wage Award

Employees of the Defence Industries of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna State are threatening to stage a protest due to the failure of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to fulfill its promise of paying the N35,000 wage award for six months.

The disgruntled workers expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to honor its commitment despite the prevailing hardships faced by Nigerians following the removal of the fuel subsidy….READ ALSOChief Of Army Staff Pledges Rescue Of Abducted Kaduna Students

It is recalled that Tinubu had announced in his Independence Day speech in October 2023 that his administration would implement wage awards of N35,000 for active workers and N25,000 for pensioners, pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new minimum wage.

Although payment to active workers commenced, the program was suspended before resuming in December 2023 following pressure from organized labor.

However, some DICON staff revealed that they have not received any payment since the program began in September 2023, while all other civil servants have been paid for all six months.

They are urging the Federal Government to urgently address the issues causing delays in receiving their entitlements, expressing their exhaustion with the financial processes at DICON and hinting at potential protests if the situation persists.

One staff member stated, “We are aggrieved and may soon protest again over the several meetings between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress, where the Federal Government stated that it has started and completed payment of the N35,000 wage award promised for six months.”

“We believe in the principles of justice and fairness that this administration stands for, with unwavering faith in Mr. President’s anti-corruption crusade and the integrity of his government. We humbly employ you to lend us your assistance in this dire situation.”

“We call on the Federal Government to swiftly resolve the issues causing delays in receiving our entitlements and also proffer a lasting solution to the common delay and day-to-day robbery of DICON staff by ensuring that DICON staff are enrolled in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).”