Workers in the various local government areas in Borno State, on Friday, embarked on mass action in Maiduguri to protest non-implementation of N70,000 minimum wage in the state.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, led the mass action in commemoration of the May 1 International Workers’ Day.

The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa, in a media interaction, decried that local government staff suffer severe harsh conditions from the prevailing economic conditions in Nigeria.

Inuwa highlighted, “You may like to know why we are celebrating our Workers’ Day on the street today.

"We all know the situation we find ourselves in this country.

"Nigerian workers are the poorest citizens in this country. Therefore, we chose to celebrate our Workers’ Day on the street.

“Last two years, the national leadership of organised labour negotiated the N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers. That makes it a law for all states to pay their workers.”

The NLC State Chairman observed that the state government paid minimum wage of primary school teachers and healthcare workers. He lamented that the government excluded local government workers.

According to Inuwa, “Here in Borno, we negotiated our own.

"However, local government status is the main issue we face here in Borno State.

"The teachers’ and primary healthcare workers’ minimum wage has been covered, but it remains the main local government staff."