From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
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.
“We only heard the news in the media this morning and now, many of our members have gotten alert from banks confirming payment of 50 percent of their salaries. Kogi doctors are not happy with that decision.
“As a noble and an understanding association, we expected the state government to notify us of and not take us by surprise. I learnt those working in tertiary institutions are being paid full salary while those in the ministry and Hospital Management Board will also receive half salary. We express our displeasure with that kind of discrimination.”
The NMA, however, appealed to doctors in the state to remain calm and not be discouraged but urged members “to go about their normal activities” as efforts are already in place to correct the anomaly.