Kogi state workers turned down a 50 percent salary offer from the state government for Sallah.
The rejection came as many workers, who
were screened in the last workers’ verification are yet to receive any
salary since January 2017.
In Bulletin No. 09, which was released
yesterday, organised labour in the state, made up of the Nigerian Labour
Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and Public Sector
Joint Negotiation Council (PSJNC), said it rejected the proposed half
salary. The half salary was for July.
“This is to inform all workers that
government is at it again as it is proposing 50 percent salary for the
month of July, after collecting the first and second bailout tranches of
the Paris Club refund and the normal, monthly allocations.
“To our dismay, government, for the first
time, met with the leadership of organised labour over the July salary
issue, having noticed a shortfall in the monthly allocation for July and
the meeting was deadlocked.”
Labour also stated in the bulletin that the present administration inherited a N2.7 billion wage bill before screening of workers.
“This amount took care of purported ghost
and genuine workers in the state. We hereby demand an explanation; on
how government arrived at N3.1 billion wage bill, even when reasonable
number of workers have not been paid for several months.
“As workers, it would be better to take
this stance today and save tomorrow as any attempt to take half salary
shall be the beginning of percentage salary payment in Kogi state. We
wish our members a happy sallah, even though on empty stomach.”
The bulletin urged all workers to remain calm and be law-abiding and await further directives from organised labour.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has also expressed displeasure over
the half salary arrangement.
NMA said the proposal was unacceptable.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr
Godwin Tijani and made available to newsmen, yesterday, the association
said it was not invited to any meeting between the state government and
labour leaders where it was agreed that workers in the state will
collect half salary.
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