Cross River Labour Ultimatum Ticks Down as Unions Threaten to Resume Suspended Strike
By Benjamin GBOR
With its 14-day ultimatum already underway and set to expire on December 10, the Organised Labour in Cross River State has warned that it will resume the suspended industrial action if the state government fails to resolve long-standing workers’ issues.
In a letter addressed to Governor Bassey Otu and titled “Re: Workers/Labour Issues — 14 Days Ultimatum for His Excellency’s Urgent Intervention,” the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed disappointment that four months after suspending their July 17, 2025 strike notice, the government has yet to act on their demands.
The letter, jointly signed by NLC Chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi; TUC Chairman, Comrade Monday Ogbodum; State Joint Negotiating Council Chairman, Comrade Raymond Akan; and union secretaries Comrade Bassey Odong Eke (NLC) and Comrade Ken Bassey (TUC), was made available to news men on Wednesday.
Labour said it had held multiple meetings with key government officials, including the Head of Service and the Accountant-General, but the issues remained unresolved.
“Your Excellency, in keeping with our commitment to a peaceful work environment, the Organised Labour has relentlessly undertaken series of stakeholders’ meetings/consultations… aimed at resolving the issues. Despite our efforts, the issues have remained largely unresolved as the government officials lack the specific mandate to comprehensively address them,” the unions wrote.
They also faulted the government’s silence, noting that they have been unable to secure a meeting with Governor Otu since December 2024.
The unions said they met on November 19 and resolved to “activate the suspended action of July 17, 2025 by issuing a 14-day follow-up ultimatum effective from Thursday, 27 November, 2025.”
Labour recalled that the July strike notice was suspended after appeals by top government officials, including the Deputy Governor and the Secretary to the State Government, but lamented that the administration has remained “completely deaf to our cries and, by extension, the plight of workers.”
Unresolved issues include salary disparities between state and local government workers, implementation of promotions, the recent LGA employment exercise, delayed salaries in the councils, pension harmonisation, and the alleged exclusion of labour from government activities.
Others include agitations by health workers, concerns over the Accountant-General’s perceived hostility to workers’ welfare, implementation of the Consolidated Parliamentary Staff Salary Structure, “way-in” allowances for Radio, Television and Theatre Arts staff, and the re-emergence of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“In our desire for sustained industrial peace and the robust relationship we have built with your administration over the years, we expect an expeditious resolution of these issues, please,” the letter added.
As of press time, the state government had yet to reach out to the unions.
Attempts to contact the governor’s Special Adviser on Labour, Comrade Clarkson Otu, were unsuccessful.
The ultimatum runs out on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
