NLC condemns militants’ activities in Niger Delta
— 5th August 2016THE leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State council has condemned activities of militants in the Niger Delta region, saying attack on oil installations was greatly affecting the economy of the country.
NLC urged the militants to emulate actions of other agitators and freedom fighters like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that does not attack economic infrastructures.
According to the NLC, the militants, especially members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) should explore other options of actualising their objectives rather than destroying the nation economically.
In a communiqué at the end of the union’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting yesterday in Asaba, NLC re-affirmed its irrevocable commitment to the welfare of workers in the state. JAC comprises of chairmen and secretaries of affiliate unions of the NLC.
The communiqué was signed by the JNC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku; Secretary, Lucky Edewor; NLC Vice Chairman, Jonathan Jemirieyiube who stood in for the Chairman, David Ofoeyeno; and NLC Secretary, Innocent Ofuonyeadi.
Ofobruku said JAC noted the plight of pensioners and the entire workforce in the state, saying they were at the receiving end of the present economic crunch while political appointees were not feeling the impact of the hard times.
He said JAC also examined issues such as non-payment of salaries of council workers for several months; non-payment of June salary to workers on level 13 and above in the state civil service; non-remittance of union dues and deductions; stagnation of workers in particular grade salary level; promotion of workers without payment of accruable arrears; and withdrawal of argumentation of primary school teachers’ salary by the state government.
The communiqué, therefore, urged the state government, led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to address the vexatious issues without further delay to sustain the industrial harmony in the state.
On the state of Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), Ofobruku said: “JAC in session calls on government to intensify its IGR drive by taking a critical look at such areas as removing the services of consultants as it is noted that a great part of the IGR is used to service consultants.”
Edo govt not responsible for LG wages –Oshiomhole
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said the state government is not responsible for the failure of local government authorities to pay their workers.
He said council workers should be paid by their respective local governments and not by the state.
Speaking when he received the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Workers (ULGE), led by its National President, Khaleel Ibrahim, he said: “I want to say it clearly that Edo State Government does not have the responsibility of paying the salaries of local governments workers. I am not, and I will not collect taxes from people to pay local government workers. I don’t know what they do in other states, but in Edo State, we respect the full autonomy of local governments and this autonomy goes with responsibility. I challenge your union leaders to show any evidence to the contrary.
“Under the previous administration, the revenue of local governments was being spent on their behalf by the state government. They even bought second-hand tractors at an inflated price and distributed to local governments and deducted the money from local government funds; that is what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was doing. The union in Edo State did not raise a voice.
“Just last week, the traditional rulers in Esanland said the best the then administration did for them was to give a loan of N500,000 to buy cars at that time and they deducted the money from local governments, the union leaders did not raise a voice.
“What have I done since I came in, first I discovered that during the tenure of my predecessors, local governments in Edo State had a tradition of collecting a percentage of their money and paying to the previous administration before they got their allocation, I said No, this government will not touch local government money, local government money will be managed by the councils for the benefit of the people in your localities.”
So, I challenge your union to prove anything to the contrary. I have not done any procurement for local governments; I have not done employment for local government, I have not sat down to make any transfers for local governments, I have not in any way interfered in the funds of local governments. Therefore, if local governments cannot manage their money they only have themselves to blame.”
Earlier, Ibrahim said: “The national leadership of the union is not happy and we find it difficult to remain in Abuja while our members do not get their salaries some up to 18 months.
“We could not stay back because we feel that we are part of this government and being part of this government we equally find it very shameful to leave the situation of Edo while we are battling other issues in other states. So, we decided that we must come to join the state leadership who are already on ground protesting non-payment of salaries. Our members are angry, our members are hungry and you know a hungry man is an angry man.
“The truth of the matter is that we are here to support the unpaid, hungry local government workers of Edo State and we know that something is going to be done about it.”
