Bauchi state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried the non-payment of February salaries to the workers in the state, and urged the state government to release the money without further delay.
According to the press statement issued yesterday by the union’s state chairman, Hamisu Muhammmad Gital, the delay was due to the inability of the workers and the state government to compromise on the planned deduction of 10 per cent from the salaries of civil servants.
Gital and his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), however, appealed to the workers to remain calm as the Organised Labour was doing everything possible to protect their interest.
The statement said: “The organised Labour in the state met today Tuesday, March 11, 2014, and reviewed the current situation as it relates to non-payment of February 2014 salaries by Bauchi state government. The state government has recently approached the Organised Labour with request
that 10 per cent of workers’ salaries be sacrificed to the state government while the workers vehemently object.
“In view of the development the Organised Labour is asking the state government to without further delay pay the salaries of workers, in the interest of continued industrial harmony in the state.”
A cross-section of civil servants described the delay as “sad and unfortunate,” saying that the development had brought untold hardship to them and their families.
Efforts made to get the comments of the State Head of Service, Abdon Gin, failed as at the time of filing this report as he did not respond to the calls and messages sent to him.
