The welfare efforts of the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong to the state workforce is declining.
It was rosy at the inception of the administration in such a way that the workers nicknamed him, “Governor Alert” due to regular payment of salaries.
That initial robust industrial relations in the state is, however, changing fast. According to the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Eugine Manji, “The state government paid us salaries last in April. Now we are in July, that means 3 months unpaid salaries.”
Eugine said, “The same thing is affecting payment of pension. The last pension paid was also in April. As for gratuity, that one is dated back to 2011. Gratuity has not been paid since 2011 in the state.”
A state civil servant who pleaded anonymity informed The Nation that, “Some workers are still expecting their April salaries. And we are being told that the June allocation will be used to pay the outstanding April salary, after which the balance will be used to pay some ministries for May salary.”
“The truth is, the state government has been borrowing to pay salaries every month. And now it has got to a level that two months allocation are needed to be able to pay one month salary.” Samuel Dama, a retired state civil servant, said.