The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Segun Oni, has disclosed that the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has put in place plans to clear salary arrears nationwide.
Oni made the disclosure when he received Nigerian-born United Kingdom (UK) Member of Parliament, Kate Osamor at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja.
Oni, who described the visit of the UK MP as homecoming, said told her that although a bulk of salary arrears owed workers in some states have been paid through bailout funds provided by the Buhari administration, the government is not relenting in its effort to totally eliminate all arrears owed workers and pensioners
He said: “We are doing something which people have not recognised as a cardinal signature of the progressives.
“We are trying to eradicate salary arrears. Past governments, particularly at the state levels owed salaries.
“This government has been trying to help them (states) pay the arrears and very soon we are going to have a check on how much is left everywhere to be paid. But substantially, a bulk of salary arrears is paid now.
“The people who are owed salaries are mostly the downtrodden and when they are owed, you compound the poverty equation. We are working towards ensuring that in no distant future, arrears will be eliminated.
“The only way we can do it is through the bailout funds to states. Because we cannot control what the governor would do because he is chief executive, but when there are bailout funds, we believe that they will apply it to settle salary arrears.” In her remarks, MP Osamor said that her Party – the Labour Party – was ready to share its experiences, good practices and work with the APC.
“We are very happy to share our experiences with you. Because it shows that no party is standstill. At points the party may feel that it is going through a difficult phase, how do we get out of it? But we are going through that and we assist the party so we will obviously work together and share good practice.” She said.
Also present at the meeting were the APC National Youth Leader, Dasuki Ibrahim Jalo; Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Edwin Ikhinmwin; and, Country Representative, Westminister Foundation for Democracy, Adebowale Olorunmola.
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