As the year 2011 runs to an end,civil servants in the country have declared that the New Year will commence with a general strike in the civil service due to the failure of the Federal Government and some state governments to abide by the National Minimum Wage Act and pay the N18, 000 prescribed by the Act.

Under the auspices of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), the oldest trade union in the country, the workers regretted that despite various meetings, agreement signed and promises even from President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Government had not commenced the payment, while some states had also refused to implement the Act.

Already, the union has issued an ultimatum to the governments at all levels to ensure implementation of the act. The NCSU gave a 21-day ultimatum, which has begun counting from December 19.

The ultimatum ends on Monday, January 9, 2012, and the union has warned that it will not succumb to any other rounds of negotiations and meetings with the government in 2012, but for the implementation and payment of the money.

A communiqué issued after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) at the Labour House, Abuja said the N18,000 national minimum wage was legally binding on all the levels of government and employers of labour who employ 50 workers and above, describing it as an impeachable offence for them not to implement it.

Signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Kiri Mohammed and General Secretary, Comrade G.E. Ukeni, the communiqué read: “Nec-in-session critically considered the implementation of N18,000 national minimum wage which was legally binding but not being implemented by the Federal Government and some state governments as not only disturbing but also an impeachable offence.

“The union resolved and issued 21-day ultimatum with effect from December 19, 2011 to the concerned tiers of government to conclude negotiations and implement the N18,000 Minimum Wage Act without further delay.”

On the removal of oil subsidy, the union said it exhaustively deliberated on the proposed removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government and the negative and harsh consequences on the masses of this country and rejects the proposal.

The NEC-in-session therefore calls on the Federal Government to fix the existing refineries in Nigeria rather than relying solely on the importation of fuel for the country’s local consumption.

The NCSU also expressed concerned on the spate of bombings, kidnapping and terrorism claiming the lives of innocent citizens in the country and called on security agencies to brace up and squarely face the security challenges.

The union decried the difficulties being experienced by civil servants who park and trek four kilometres to their various offices at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja due to congested parking spaces.

The meeting noted with dismay that the provided spaces were restricted and reserved for view high calibres people in the service, adding that the problem was aggravated with the harassment of the workers by the Federal Road Safety Commission, who chain the cars of civil servants while in office.