Some traders and residents of Keffi, Nasarawa State, have appealed to the state government to reconsider its decision to cut salaries of workers in order to ensure industrial peace.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Keffi.
Labour unions in the state went on an indefinite strike, on July 4, 2016, to protest the downward review of their salaries by 50 per cent.
The respondents said that their appeal became necessary because of the prevailing economic hardship, adding that pay-cut would worsen conditions of workers.
A petty trader, Mrs Sarah Oboh, said that the state government’s action would weaken the purchasing power of the civil servants.
“Our problem is that the strike by workers has been affecting our businesses negatively.
“Now, we hear that the organised labour has given the state government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse its decision on the salary cut or face a total strike.
“If the state government cuts down the salary of the civil servants in the state, it will also affect our sales negatively.
“This is because our business activities also depend on the patronage from the civil servants.’’
Another trader, Mr Ibrahim Sule, said the government’s action needed to be reviewed in order to enhance the socio-economic development of the state.
“My appeal is for the state government to have a rethink, to boost the standard of living of the people as well as the socio-economic activities of the state.”
A resident, Mr Abraham Osahi, also appealed to the state government to rescind its decision to cut down the salary of civil servants because of its negative effects on the workers’ general well being.
In her contribution, a student, Miss Habiba Abu, said that the pay-cut by government would have negative consequences on her schooling and her siblings as well.
“I am a student; this issue of salary cut in the state will not only affect our parents but will also affect our education and our standard of living negatively,’’ she lamented.
NAN
Comentários