There was confusion at the Kogi State Government House on Tuesday as the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) outrightly rejected the statement of the government that they had paid Local Government workers in Kogi State over 50% per cent salaries.
The Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Chief Edward Onoja while addressing Labour Leaders comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN), National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Lokoja after they embark on a peaceful protest over the N30, 000 new minimum wage told workers that at Local government level, in the last six months, payments have not gone below 50% per cent.
The statement did not go down well with the workers as they began to chant “No No, is not true.
Onoja while explaining further to buttress his claim said, “Is there a NULGE representative here? Please, we are before the world so we are not here to joke.
“We must read out some information so that when they say what the money is used for, you will compare today and yesterday. NULGE chairman, there is a directive that no Local Government should pay below 50% no matter what. NULGE chairman confirm”.
When the President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Tade Adeyemi stepped forward to ascertain the position of the government on the percentage payment of Local Government workers salaries, he rebutted the claims saying workers have been receiving 25- 30% salaries in the last six months.
“I want to on behalf of the entire Local Government workers, register our displeasure that despite our agreement, that no LGA should receive less than 54%, I want to point it to you that, majority of LGA workers are receiving 25-30% salaries”.
But the Chief of staff responded that the Director of LGA’s and Treasurers confirmed to the government with relevant records that they have been paying 50% and above.
Meanwhile, workers in the Local Government have called for the immediate sack of various DLG’s and Treasurers for allegedly hoarding their salaries.
Some workers who spoke under the condition of anonymity described the development as an embarrassment to the Kogi State Government.
Earlier, the Kogi State Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Onuh Edoka while presenting the demands of workers in the State reminded the government that workers are being owned five months, 10 months, 15-24 months respectively.
Edoka also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly implement the N30,000 new minimum wage adding that, he should not be distracted by some governors hiding under the guise of, “Nigeria Governors Forum” who are not willing to support the labour movement.
“We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuse to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our firm resolve to remove from power anti-labour governors and political leaders in the forthcoming 2019 general election.
“We urge the government to desist from using the threat of mass sack or the barbaric policy of “no work… no pay” to break our resolve as this would only calcify our position. And for any government contemplating mass sack as a response to our demands for the implementation of the new minimum wage of N30,000, we wish to offer you this advice. The consequence of workers retrenchment would be too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate,” he said.
Comments