Workers of the Kano State Water Board have embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, which they claim has already been paid to other parastatal workers in the state.
Chairman of the workers’ union, Malam Najib Abdussalam, expressed disappointment over the failure to fulfill an earlier agreement with the board’s Managing Director, Engineer Ahmad Garba Bichi, to implement the new wage before December.
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“We had an agreement to ensure the payment of the new minimum wage, but instead, workers received the old wage, which is unacceptable,” Najib said. He further emphasized that although the board is a revenue-generating agency, the government should provide interim support to meet the demand before reviewing water tariffs.
Confirming the strike, Engineer Bichi stated that implementing the new minimum wage would only be feasible after a tariff review.
The workers have already shut down the Challawa Water Treatment Plant, while the Tamburawa plant is undergoing major repairs. This development has sparked fears of severe water shortages across the state.
Water vendors have begun selling 25-litre jerry cans for as much as N100 or more, depending on the location.
A resident, Mustapha Isa, urged the government to increase budgetary allocation for water supply, highlighting inadequacies in the 2025 budget. “There needs to be more commitment to addressing water supply challenges in the state,” he stated.
Government should invest heavily into water sector for water is life, no humans can survive without water.