Unpaid Salaries: Labour calls on FG to pay balance N30.8b bailout fund

Organised labour in Kogi State has called on Federal Government to as a matter of urgency release the sum of N30.8b, being the balance of the approved N50.8b as bailout for workers in the public service of the State.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the State organised labour made this declaration today January 23 at it's headquarters in Lokoja during a press conference, where the State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Onuh Edoka and other labour leaders in the State were present.

Comrade Edoka who held brief for the State Organised Labour stated that the non-release of the fund has put the workers of the State,  most especially local government workers and primary school teachers at a very perilous state where they cannot meet their basics needs as human beings.

 He said majority of State workers are down with five months salary arrears, while those  who got late clearance from the screening exercise have various months of backlog of arrears; adding that life has indeed become unbearable for these categories of workers, as  many could not afford  the school fees of their children and other basic family needs.

According to Edoka, "the worst case scenario is that of primary school teachers and local government workers who have continued to receive ridiculous percentages of their salaries. Primary school teachers and local government workers are being owed salary arrears of well over 30months", he said.

Comrade Edoka therefore stated that it is in the light of the present sorry sight of workers, occasioned by backlog of unpaid salaries that the "organised labour in the State passionately appeals to the Federal Govenment to release the sum of  N30.8b, being the balance of the  approved N50.8b".

However, the organised labour noted with delight that effort of the State Government in improving the state Infrastructures, like roads, water and Security across the State is commendable, saying, it should be noted that when salaries are not adequately and promptly paid, it can rub off some of these achievements of government.

"The workers of Kogi State are law abiding and very supportive of the administration but government at the Federal, State and local levels should reciprocate this gesture by paying the backlog of salary arrears owed to them so that workers can continue to put in their best in the service of their fatherland",  Edoka expressed.

It would be recalled that at the twilight of the administration of Captain Idris Wada,  the immediate past executive Governor of the State, the State Government applied and got approval of N50.8b to settle arrears of salaries owed workers and pensioners at the State and local government levels.

The administration of captain Idris Wada was unable to access any of the funds before the end of his regime,  but the present government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello was able to access N20b of the fund, leaving the balance of N30.8b.

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