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Tag: salaries

  • Edo State workers are paid as and when due – Govt

    Edo State workers are paid as and when due – Govt

    The Edo State Government has described as “false and misleading” reports that it owes its workers, noting that state employees receive their salaries on or before the 26th of every month.

    In a statement, the state government said no worker in its employ is owed a dime, and this is a testament to the efforts by government to ensure that workers are well motivated for optimal service delivery.

    The state government was reacting to a report that purports that it owes its workers and pensioners 10 months salaries.

    According to the statement, “The state government has ensured that workers are paid as and when due. We are pursuing all-inclusive reforms in the state civil service to ensure that workers deliver optimum service to the people. The payment of their salaries is one of the first steps to achieving this and we have been faithful to that mandate.

    “We have met these obligations right from the previous administration up till now. In Edo State, we prioritise the welfare of workers, both those in active service and even pensioners.”

    Noting that the state has not only met salary obligations but also kept faith with pensioners’ entitlements, the state government said, “We have not only paid salaries, we have also met obligations to pensioners. In fact, we have paid N6.2 billion to both state and local government pensioners from January to September.”

    “So, we are surprised by the publication listing us as one of the states owing pensioners and workers. We believe it does disservice to the good work that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration is doing in Edo State.

     “We adopt prudent strategies to manage resources, allocate scare resource and prioritise the needs of our workers. It will be out of tune to owe workers when we are pushing reforms to improve their workplaces and processes,” the state said.

  • Ekiti doctors decry unpaid six months’ salaries

    Doctors in Ekiti State, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), have decried the six months’ unpaid salaries owed their colleagues working in government hospitals.

    They said the situation was causing them serious hardship.

    The doctors called for the immediate payment of their salaries and effective funding of health institutions, particularly the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

    They said this would improve healthcare delivery and ensure that EKSUTH meets its core mandate in research and training.

    NMA’s State Chairman, Dr. Sunday Omoya, spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at an event marking the end of the 2017 Physicians’ Week and the association’s annual general meeting (AGM).

    Omoya said 300 people were offered free medical treatment by doctors at Ipole Iloro in Ekiti West Local Government Area within the period under review.

    The NMA chairman said the body also held medical education for rural dwellers on dieting, hypertension, HIV/AIDS and other ailments ravaging the people at the grassroots.

    He added that NMA was tightening the noose on quackery with the signing of an agreement with state government for the introduction of accreditation of health facilities to fish out operators of illegal medical centres.

    Pleading for the payment of doctors’ salaries, Omoya said: “We are pleading that even if all the arrears won’t be paid, government must bring us as per with our colleague civil servants.

    “As we speak now, six months are being owed while civil servants are owed five months. This is causing serious demoralisation to our doctors in all the cadres of health institutions.”

  • Aregbesola unhappy about unpaid workers’ full salaries

    Aregbesola unhappy about unpaid workers’ full salaries

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has expressed unhappiness over his administration’s inability to pay full salary to civil servants and political appointees.

    Addressing a team of Federal Government on the Digital Switch Over on an advocacy visit to the state, Aregbesola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, stressed that not all the civil servants were affected by the partial salary payment.

    The governor said the nation’s economic downturn, which was induced by brazen corruption, wanton theft of crude oil and mismanagement of resources by the former Federal Government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), put the state in its current economic doldrums.

    He said no reasonable person or government would be happy for being incapable of performing his or its responsibility.

    Aregbesola said: “We are not happy paying modulated salary to civil servants and political appointees. We are compelled by the financial reality; we are constrained.

    “Contrary to the lies you are being fed with, it is not all our workers that receive half salaries. Workers on levels One to Seven, being the most vulnerable and the largest chunk of the workforce, get full salaries. Workers on levels Eight to 11 showed understanding with the government to accept 75 per cent of their salaries.

    “It is only workers on Grade Level 12 and upwards that receive 50 per cent of their salaries. The workers have shown maturity, support and understanding. We acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifice and support of the workers.”

    Aregbesola said the financial burden on his administration was to enable it provide massive infrastructure to transform the state and develop it economically.

    The governor said Osogbo, the state capital, needed infrastructural development to have a look of a modern state capital.

    He said: “Before our government, Osogbo roads were very narrow. Since there was no development, there was no heavy traffic and the roads accommodated the users. However, there was an influx of people to the state since our administration came on board. There was a heavy traffic on Osogbo roads and they could not accommodate the heavy traffic anymore.

    “We started construction of new roads and rehabilitation of some existing ones to ease traffic. As a visionary government, we know that by the time our economic plan begins to grow, Osogbo roads would become busier. So, we come up with the construction of Osogbo East bypass road. The road has four big bridges.

    “Anybody who does not have business in Osogbo will take the road to various destinations. This will reduce the traffic on Osogbo township roads. We built the road for economic purposes. People who are narrow in thinking do not know that.

    “We know that things are hard and the state is passing through financial difficulty. But we are undeterred by the challenges. Our credo is to see that our people explore their freedom for economic prosperity.

    “Our joy is that we will leave a legacy that will transform into economic prosperity for the people and the state. Like the credo of our mentor, the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, we want freedom for all, life more abundant.”

  • Workers hail Ugwuanyi for sustaining payment of salaries

    Workers hail Ugwuanyi for sustaining payment of salaries

    ENUGU State civil servants yesterday celebrated their civil service week, paying glowing tribute to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his sustained disposition to their general welfare since he assumed office.

    The workers made the commendation at the Michael Okpara, Independence Layout , Enugu, during the grand finale of this year’s week-long activities marking the civil service week. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Enugu State chapter, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, explained that since assuming office, the present administration has continued to pay workers’ salaries not later than the 25th of every month, adding that the governor’s kind gesture has stood him out as about the most responsive and responsible governor in the country.

    “I must say that in the areas of paying salaries, His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is very responsive, just as the Head of Service said after highlighting the good deeds of the present administration. You can see that promotions are being released to workers, paying of leave allowances.

    Actually, he has been doing well. You can recall that His Excellency awarded houses to civil servants of lower grade, it is unprecedented”, Comrade Nwobodo noted.

    The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo said: “As a government, we have indeed continued to express our desire to build a civil service that will not only be a model among its contemporaries but one that will give the people of Enugu State a new lease of life in terms of qualitative service delivery. We want to see a civil service where discipline, commitment, efficiency and altruism reign supreme.”

    He thanked the workers for their support for the Ugwuanyi administration and pledged to sustain the good relationship existing between the workers and the state government.

  • NLC to workers: vote out governors owing salaries

    NLC to workers: vote out governors owing salaries

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged workers to vote out governors who are owing salaries.  It has advised its members to get their voters’ cards ready for the next election.

    Its President, Ayuba Wabba, who was in Benue State to support the workers in their battle against unpaid wages, said workers would be taking their destiny in their hands, if they registered and voted wisely.

    He urged the workers and their families to ensure that they obtained voters’ registration cards.

    He said most governors believed that workers did not vote, and that this explained the shabby treatment meted out to them.

    Wabba told Benue workers that experience had shown that governments were not ready to pay salaries and pensions without a fight, adding that it was up to them to do the needful to get their salaries and pensions regularly.

    A delegation led by Wabba, was in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, in solidarity with the workers at the end of their one week warning strike against non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

    The NLC chair described Benue, with a record of seven months of non-payment of salaries in ministries and parastatals, 11 months in  local governments and teaching institutions, and 13 months of pension arrears, as the worst in the country.

    Wabba further said Congress could no longer fold its arms while the workers were being maltreated.

    He condemned the refusal of the the government to pay the workers after collecting bail-out funds.

    The labour leader said though  some states had met salary and pension obligations to their workers and pensioners, the Benue government had been indifferent.

    Wabba said: “The wilful act of the government was illegal as it violated all known rules of employment, callous, morally reprehensible and a betrayal of the trust of workers and pensioners who had voted the government into office.

    “In the light of the pains and indescribable suffering brought upon the workers, pensioners and their families, congress had no hesitation in giving full support to any lawful action including a full strike action, in pursuit of their salaries, pensions and gratuities.”

    He urged the workers and pensioners to remain united and not allow officials of the government or anyone to distract them from their objectives.

    Wabba said the NLC resolved that it would take steps to mobilise all workers for effective action to defend their interests.

  • Buhari worried over unpaid workers’ salaries in states

    Buhari worried over unpaid workers’ salaries in states

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing complaints and agitations by workers in states over unpaid salaries and allowances, in spite of interventions by the Federal Government.

    Receiving a group of governors led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, at the State House, President Buhari said the plight of workers in the states need urgent attention as many could barely survive.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months.

    Read: Buhari to attend D-8 Summit in Turkey

    “I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children,’’ he said.

    The President told the governors that two out of the three-pronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure the country and fight corruption had received some commendable reviews by the people, noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in states had taken a toll on the people.

    “God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants so the rainy season has been good, you can ask the Kebbi State governor on this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down.’’ he said 

    President Buhari said the Federal Government and state executives would need to work closer together to ameliorate the situation of workers across the country.

    He disclosed that he had instructed all government agencies to comply with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in order to ensure more transparency and prudence in accounting for the revenues of the government and the sharing of entitlements with states.

    In his remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum said the various interventions by the Federal Government, which include the bailouts, were judiciously utilized by the states, stressing that the governors inherited backlog of unpaid salaries and huge debts portfolios on assumption of office.

    “We are concerned with the situation in our states, and we are trying our best to manage the resources,’’ he said.

    Yari noted that the bailout funds, and part of the fallout from the London-Paris Club that had been received by the states, were properly expended to alleviate the plight of workers, but more had to be done.

    The NGF chairman commended the efforts of the President in improving the economy, assuring that the states would continue working with the Federal Government to improve the livelihood of workers and all Nigerians.

    Governors of Ondo, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kwara, Akwa Ibom and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State were part of the visit to the President.

  • We paid N1.64trn to States. LGs for salaries, pensions, others – FG

    We paid N1.64trn to States. LGs for salaries, pensions, others – FG

    The Federal Government on Sunday said it released additional support of N1.64 trillion to states and local governments between 2015 and 2017 as part of measures to stabilize the polity.

    President Muhammadu Buhari revealed this in a broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that the funds were released to enable the states and local governments to “pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers who had been all but crippled over the years.

    “N200 billion in 2015, N441 billion in 2016 and N1 trillion in 2017, altogether totaling N1.64 trillion.

    “This was done to enable states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers who had been all but crippled over the years.’’

    Cue out audio

    The president disclosed that the Federal Government’s current N500 billion Special Intervention Programme targeted groups through the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and the N-Power Programme as well as providing loans to small-scale traders and artisans.

    He said that the intervention programme also covered the Conditional Cash Transfer, Family Homes Fund and Social Housing Scheme.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that civil servants and retirees in some states are still being owed by their governments, backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions and other benefits. These had led to strikes and work stoppages.

    Buhari had on Sept. 11, appealed to state governors to pay all understanding salaries of their workers, and accumulated pensions of ex-workers from the additional funds provided to them by the Federal Government.

    He made the appeal when he met with members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers at the new Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He had frowned at the inability of the concerned state governments to pay retirement benefits and outstanding salaries of workers with their shares of Paris Club Loan Refunds paid to them.

    “We have to digress this much because I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people.

    “There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.

    “I’m appealing to the governors (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure you pay anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he had said. (NAN)

  • Bayelsa ‘not owing five months salaries’

    Bayelsa ‘not owing five months salaries’

    The Bayelsa State government said yesterday it is not owing its workers five months salaries contrary to the claim by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    In a statement yesterday, Comisioner for Information Jonathan Obiebute said it is worth noting that Bayelsa state did not apply for or receive salary bailout to states. “Bayelsa state was not owing workers because the governor saved some funds for the rainy day.”

     According to him, It was the local government councils that applied for N1.2 billion for salaries of local government workers adding that It had been the policy of the Dickson’s administration that local government council funds should not be touched by state government.

    Obuebite recalled that in the first four years of the Dickson’s administration between 2012 and 2016, no worker was owed salaries, until 2016 when the allocation from the Federation Account started experiencing a steady decline. He said most states suffered similar fate.

    Explaining how it happened, Obuebute said: “The net allocation to the state in February, March, April and May 2016 were N2.98 billion, N2.16 billion, N2.42 billion and N3.45 billion respectively.  These when matched against a monthly wage bill of over N4 billion, caused the inability of the state to meet its salary obligations.

      “We must note that these net allocation was not meant for salary payment alone but also to meet all other state obligations, including local loans servicing, running of all MDAs and government, security expenses, education, health infrastructural development etc.

    “Inevitably, salaries were owed in 2016. However, throughout 2017, the state has not owed any month.”

     The commissioner said that while the state was gradually defraying the arrears of salaries owed in 2016, it had kept faith with all its salary obligations for 2017, “as workers at the state level have all been paid up to date from January to August, 2017.”

  • Labour to organise rallies in states owing salaries, others

    Labour to organise rallies in states owing salaries, others

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is poised to organise rallies in states that have failed to use the bailout funds and the Paris Club refunds to pay workers’salaries.

    At the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Abuja.

    NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the “Name and Shame rallies” would  draw attention to the  suffering of workers who have not been paid for several months.

    The CWC meeting urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Finance not to release the third and final tranch of the Paris Club refund until the governors make a commitment to pay the backlog of salaries and pensions.

    The CWC directed all workers, pensioners and their families to support governors that have used their funds judiciously.

    On the persistent lack of electricity, despite that power companies received about N740 billion since 2015, Ayuba said he found it difficult to rationalise why the government was planning to give N39 billion more to the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) for metering.

    “Given that one of the conditions before the privatisation by the last administration was that the new owners would provide meters for customers within 24 months, CWC said the defaulting DisCo ought to face sanctions and not additional bailout,” Ayuba said.

    The union also condemned Morocco’s request to become a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “CWC feels that on account of Morocco’s continuing defiance of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU), by continuing to occupy Western Sahara, the Kingdom should not be allowed into ECOWAS.

    “The CWC, therefore, resolved to mobilise Nigerians and all its stakeholders to ensure that the National Assembly does not support the admission of Morocco into ECOWAS,” it said.

    The NLC also hinted that it would engage in public discussions on major national issues, geared towards sensitising Nigerians and directing the government’s and citizens’ attention to the task of nation-building and inclusive development, during this year’s Independent Day celebrations.

    It also bemoaned the non-composition of the National Minimum Wage negotiation committee even after labour had submitted the names of its representatives to the committee.

    It urged the Federal Government to kick off negotiation, as the negotiating committee should have  been put in place long ago in line with the 2011 Collective Agreement.

    Congress stressed that the government and its partners should fast-track and conclude the negotiations on  time.

  • Borno not owing salaries – Isa Gusau

    Borno not owing salaries – Isa Gusau

    Reports that Borno State is among states owing workers’ salaries after collecting the Paris Fund Refunds from the Federal Government is false, according to the Spokesman of Borno State Governor, Isa Gusau who is also Gov. Shettima’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy.

    Mr. Gusau who was reacting to inquiries from our correspondent on the salary issues in a text message said, “In Borno state, the Government has never owed the salaries of workers, I don’t know where that report came from”.

    Also collaborating the position of Mr. Gusau, Borno State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Titus Abbana told our correspondent that the state is up to date with her salary commitment to workers in the state, adding that, “even the last salary was paid before the sallah celebration to enable muslims civil servant in the state to make purchases instead of borrowing to paid later.

    Comrade Abbana also informed that the government of Borno State has even paid the salaries of revenue generation parastals like Borno State Board of Internal Revenue, International Hotel, Borno State Hotel who have been unable to generate revenue and pay their as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.

    Comrade Abbana who commended Borno State Government for the feat however express concern over the slow pace of the biometric exercise which according to him has caused too much sufferings especially for the pensioners in the state.

    He therefore called on government to speed up the process by employing more hands and competent people that will carry out the exercise in good time. He added that the completion of the exercise will be beneficial for both government and the workers as no one would be short-changed.

    The Borno NLC Leaders also called on the state government to settle the outstanding gratuity of workers that have retired from the state civil service to enable them quickly pick up their lives.