From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Civil servants in Benue State have hailed Governor Hyacinth Alia for honouring his promise to start payment of salaries come June 25, 2023.
Some of the workers who spoke to our correspondent appreciated the Governor for giving them a new lease of life just as they encouraged him to continue the way he has started by paying them as at when due.
The Governor, had during his democracy speech promised to commence payment of salary as from June 25th. This made the worker very expectant as many of them said they have not seen salary in the last three to five months.
Finding by our correspondent revealed that some of the workers started receiving alert for May salary from Sunday.
Speaking in Makurdi, Miss Rebecca Seember said even though she was yet to receive, some of her colleagues have received alerts for their May salary and she was sure hers was just being delayed by network.
Also, another civil servant who identified herself as Mrs Adoka was full of praises for the Governor saying she was happy that they can finally received salary at the end of the month.
Adoka who described Alia as a talk and do Governor, said, “I can not deceive you, this is a God sent man to people of Benue. Aside of the five months salary arrears the past governor owed workers in 2017, the last time we received salary was November, 2022.
“I have borrowed so much money and am ashamed to continue to borrow. But thank God the waiting game is over.
“My appeal is that the governor should not default going forward. Let him also remember to settle the 10 months arrears,” she said.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Terungwa Igbe, has thanked the Governor Alia for honouring his words saying Benue workers are happy with the development.
Our correspondent reports that the state workers who received salary last in November, 2022 were also owed arrears of five months in 2017 by the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom.