Tension in Imo as workers protest over non-payment of salaries before Easter, threaten to go on strike
- Imo state workers have threatened to go on strike over the government’s failure to pay their salaries before the Easter celebration
- The aggrieved workers pointed out that no state government in the North can deny its workers their salaries during Salah
- Medical doctors in the employ of the state govt had last week, embarked on a two-week strike to press for payment of their salaries from January 2018 till date
Imo state workers are expressing anger over the government’s failure to pay their salaries before the Easter celebration, and may proceed on strike.
In a chat with The Guardian, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Austin Chilakpu, also disclosed that some retirees alleged that they were being owed more than 54 months arrears of pensions.
READ ALSO: FG must punish employers who refuse to pay N30,000 minimum wage - Balarabe Musa
Legit.ng gathers that among those who expressed their anger over the non-payment of salary, are local government workers.
The workers had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Rochas Okorocha to pay their salaries and pensions, in the first week of April.
They wondered why despite the state receiving allocations from the federal government, they had not received their pay.
The letter conveying the ultimatum to the governor was signed by organized labour in the state, comprising the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC).
The letter read in part: “It is pertinent to point out that no state government in the North can deny its workers their salaries during Salah.”
“It is, therefore, expected that no state in this part of the country should deny its workers their salaries during such all- important celebrations as Easter.
“We cannot guarantee any industrial peace if the government fails to do the needful. Labour leaders in Imo state should not be held responsible for any outbreak of industrial unrest.
“Government should use the seven days given to her to pay the workers and pensioners.”
Medical doctors in the employ of the state government had last week, embarked on a two-week strike to press for payment of their salaries from January 2018 till date.
They also demanded the provision of access road to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu, among others.
According to Dr Kyrian Duruewuru, state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the association would compel doctors in the federal medical institutions and private hospitals to join the strike, if the state government did not do the needful at the expiration of the ultimatum.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that Imo state workers trooped out during the 2018 May Day celebrations with protests and complaints over their conditions at the Heroes Square in Owerri.
The workers said their protest would continue until the government paid them 100% of their salaries.
The complaints of the workers cut across salary arrears, pension arrears and other poor conditions of service.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!
60-year-old LAWMA worker laments over unpaid salary - on Legit TV:
Source: Legit.ng
from Legit.ng: Latest Nigeria News Today & Breaking Naija News 24/7 http://bit.ly/2GuE7nS
via EDUPEDIA24/7
Comments
Post a Comment