The labour union had demanded that the state government should return the deduction or “face the wrath” of the union.

The state government had earlier announced that it would deduct 25 per cent from salaries of civil servants receiving above N67,000 to the government provide palliatives for the vulnerable citizens affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

However, the state NLC Chairman, Ayuba Suleiman asked the state government to intercept the 25 per cent deduction, this he said while addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, Suleiman said the deduction should be done with workers’ consent, saying anything other than that was unacceptable.

The NLC chairman said, “Sequel to the deductions of 25 per cent on the salary of all civil servants in Kaduna State, effective from April, 2020, labour in Kaduna State unequivocally rejects this deduction.

“This is because the Union was not consulted on the issue nor consented to the deduction.

“Article 8 of the International Labour Organization Protection of Wages Convention, 1949, (No.95) provides that deduction from wages shall be permitted only under conditions and to the extent prescribed by the National Laws or regulations or fixed by collective agreement or arbitration award.

“Labour in Kaduna State is not against the provision of palliatives to the poor to cushion the COVID19 lockdown from the salaries of civil servants in Kaduna State but wish to state that, it ought to be carried along, and such deductions or contributions should be made voluntary not obligatory

“As responsible working groups who are conscious of the predicament of the average citizens of Kaduna state, we are disposed to committing much higher for the wellbeing of the less-privileged if the need be, and proper process is followed.

“In view of the above, Labour in Kaduna calls on the Kaduna state government to stop the 25 per cent deduction henceforth and should return the 25 per cent salary already deducted from the workers.