The Nation Newspaper

Tag: salary

  • ‘Stop councils from paying teachers’ salary’

    Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday protested the continuous payment of primary school teachers’ salaries by local governments.

    The union threatened to shut down schools nationwide if the state government did not remove the payment from the councils’ schedule.

    Its chairman, Adesegun Raheem, who led the protest from Oregun Senior High School to the House of Assembly at Alausa said: “We are here to enlighten the public, the state assembly and the government that there is a catastrophe looming particularly in the education sector, and for it not to happen, the best way is to make sure salaries and allowances of our teachers in primary schools are gotten without unnecessary stress or bureaucratic bottleneck.

    “It has always been through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), which is a parastatal of the state government that our salaries are being paid.  Now that local government is struggling for autonomy, we are not against their autonomy but we are saying that salaries and allowances for primary school teachers should be excluded from their autonomy.  We are proposing that it should reside with the state government or be taken to the federation account so that it is gotten as a matter of first charge.

    “Local governments do not employ teachers; therefore they cannot pay teachers. You do not pay for service you do not demand. We are saying local governments cannot afford to pay our teachers and the best way to do that is to approach the state assembly which would give consent through concurrence and that is why we are here.

    “But if the government does not comply with our demand, we will be forced to shut down both public and private schools in the country.”

    House Committee on Education, Chairman Lanre Ogunyemi promised that the lawmakers would look into their complaint.

    “For the proposal, whatever the Federal Government is bringing to us, if it is not in the interest of our people we will not accept.  The content of your letter which you have submitted to the governor and the speaker will be perused and we will invite you to a round-table session with us on what is in the best interest of all,” he said.

  • We honoured our obligation on National Assembly staff salary, says SunTrust Bank

    SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited said yesterday that it honoured salary payment obligations to National Assembly workers, contrary to a claim.

    Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management Usman Abdulqadir told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the lender followed instructions given to it by the National Assembly on payment of staff salaries and did not fail in its obligations.

    Abdulqadir said: “The truth of the matter is that the National Assembly is our esteemed customer. We manage some of its accounts and we pay some of its staff salaries. We bank the National Assembly as an institution and we are bound to carry out the mandate it gives to us. The mandate is they bring a list of people they want to pay in various banks and our own is to transfer to the banks, which will transfer to their respective customers.

    “We want to make it very clear here that we do not have any mandate we have not carried out.”

    He urged the complainants to go to their employer and demand for their salaries if they have not been paid.

    He said the bank had always carried out instructions from its customers adding that the complainants were not its customers.

    He said: “It has come to the attention of the bank that some individuals, claiming to be staff of the National Assembly, are claiming that the bank has held on to their salaries without paying it to them. For the avoidance of doubt, SunTrust Bank Nigeria Limited is a commercial bank duly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The bank has executed all mandates given to it with respect to making payment on behalf of its customers promptly”.

    According to him, as a banker to some of the National Assembly accounts, the bank has received the mandate to make payments to various beneficiaries and those payments have since been relayed, some via Remita, to the relevant banks.

    “We advise that any persons who are yet to receive payments executed by us should have first checked with his / her bankers to trace where such payments are held. We categorically restate that we do not fail to honour any obligation to our clients,” Abdulqadir said.

    “We also deeply regret that an individual has lost his life. We extend our deepest condolences to his immediate family and the entire National Assembly family,” he added.

    “SunTrust Bank is poised to create value for its customers by leveraging our competencies and a team of highly motivated staff, we work tirelessly to develop and provide a broad range of unique financial services and products to consumers, small business, corporations, governments and institutions which will positively impact their business,” the bank said.

  • Oyo has paid salary till February, says govt

    The Oyo State government has decried a report that it has not paid its workers since the beginning of this year.

    It faulted The Cableng for carrying what it called a faulty survey about states with backlog of salaries.

    A statement yesterday by Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, ‘Toye Arulogun, said the state was shocked by reading the report.

    It said: “The Oyo State Government has observed with dismay a news report with the headline, ‘Kogi, Abia, Oyo among six states that ‘haven’t paid workers in 2017’ in The Cableng, a news medium which is well respected by the Oyo State government. We consider the medium a reliable and credible source of information; it has earned its pedigree from professional conduct and due diligence in its reporting.

    “We are, however, shocked that a medium of such repute published a story that Oyo is one of the states that have not paid salaries this year, based on a survey by a civic tech company called BudgIT.

    “The quoted survey is faulty in its findings with a wide error margin, given the facts on the ground in relation to Oyo State. The reality on the ground casts serious doubts on the authenticity of the report. The methodology and approach of such a survey is questionable as the result is not in tandem with facts.

    “While it is understandable that the report was sourced from another reputable organisation, BudgIT, we believe The Cableng should have gone a step further to ascertain the veracity of the report before going to press, based on our belief that the ‘gates’ in the journalism profession should have helped in preventing this half-truth report.

  • NLC, TUC, others picket firm for alleged non-payment of salary

    NLC, TUC, others picket firm for alleged non-payment of salary

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Trade Union Congress, TUC United Action for Democracy (UAD) and workers of Automobile, Boatyards, Transport Equipment and Allied Senior Staff Association (AUTOBATE) have picketed Galba Nigerian Plc over alleged non-payment of salaries. Workers alleged that they are being owed 19 months salary.

    The unions, which barricaded the entrance to the company, displayed placards with inscriptions such as, “Stop the violation of condition of service,” “It is a crime to owe workers;” “No pay, no more work;”said the picketing was to attract attention to the plight of the workers.

    The branch chairman of AUTOBATE in Galba, Comrade Innocent Udongfo, accused the company of negligence and urged it to meet the demands of the workers.

    Udongfo said: “We can no longer pay our rents and our children are out of school. We are calling on the management to pay our salaries from 2015 till today. And to remit all our union dues from 2010 till date. They should implement our total emolument of the condition of service duly signed in the employment manual.

    “Several negotiations with Galba management could not work because they always want to play over our intelligence. They don’t even listen to us. Anytime we have opportunity to meet with the management they will walk us out.”

    The General Secretary of AUTOBATE, Mr. Sola Olorunfemi, explained the union had made several attempt to resolve the issue but regretted that Galba had avoided the invitations.

    Olorunfemi said, “We came all the way from Lagos after all efforts engage the Galba management in meaningful discussion proved abortive. They owe the workers since 2015 November. We have made the TUC in River State to dialogue with the company over this matter. But the management has been playing pranks for over 18 months now in order not to get this salaries paid.

    “We have recorded about five persons dead over the level of suffering inflicted on the workers by the company. We will hold this company hostage, there will be no practical operation in this premises until our demand are met.

    However, calls made to the Managing Director of Galba Nigerian Plc, Mr. Mike Appia, to get the company’s reaction were neither picked nor returned, but Administrative Officer of the firm, Mr. Dan Adi, said has nothing to say on the claims of the staff members.

  • El-Rufai declares salary, security votes public

    El-Rufai declares salary, security votes public

    •Governor’s monthly takes home is N470,521.74 •N4.556b for security votes this year

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday dared House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara by making his salary, allowances and security votes public.
    He insisted that the National Assembly budget lacked transparency.
    El-Rufai, according to his pay slip obtained in Kaduna yesterday, receives a monthly salary of N470,521.74.
    Dogara last Friday threw a challenge to El-Rufai’s request to the National Assembly to provide further details on the N115 billion 2016 National Assembly budget.
    The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, said the 2016 National Assembly budget for its 469 members was larger than the capital budget of Kaduna State, with close to 10 million inhabitants.
    El-Rufai said his security votes for this year, which he broke down into procurement & installation of CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance, procurement of geo-position interceptor and location of GSM UMTS system to check the trends and intercept/locate kidnappers’ GSM calls and procurement of drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is N4.556 billion.
    He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a challenge by the House of Representatives Speaker, calling on Kaduna State to make public its security votes and local government expenditure.
    “Malam Nasir El-Rufai welcomes this challenge as a necessary step to improve and strengthen our democracy and would like to respond as follows:
    “The budgets of all state governments in Nigeria are detailed out and presented at least under the headings of: personnel cost, overhead and capital expenditure.
    “This is unlike the budget of the National Assembly, which is a single line item of over N100 billion that divulges zero information or details.
    “NASS can at least break down its own single line budget into the hundreds of line items that are detailed in every state government budget in Nigeria. It is disingenuous to respond to every request for transparency by casting aspersions.
    “On our part, the Kaduna State Government has consistently made public all its budget details. In 2016, in an unprecedented step, the state published not only its own budget, but also that of all the 23 local government councils online on the www.openkaduna. com.ng website…
    “El-Rufai is today making publicly available his pay-slip as Governor of Kaduna State. In February 2017, the Kaduna State Government paid the governor a net salary of N470,521.74, with the following details: Income Basic Salary: N185,308.75, Hardship Allowance: N370,617.50, Gross Pay: N555,926.25, PAYE: N85,404.5, Total Deduction: N85,401.51, Net Pay: N470,521.74.
    “The amount may appear puny, but it reflects what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved as the salary and allowances of every state governor adjusted to reflect provision in-kind of accommodation and transportation.
    “El-Rufai would like to reiterate his call for the National Assembly leadership to do the same and disclose the details of the National Assembly budget and the salaries and allowances of its leadership.”

  • ASUP issues three-week ultimatum on salary payment

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum to address the shortfalls in personnel and other payments owed its members or face industrial action.

    President of the union, Comrade Usman Dutse, who made this known to newsmen, said the decision was based on the outcome of the union‘s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct governors to pay salaries owed its members without delay.

    Comrade Dutse mentioned Abia, Edo, Kogi, Benue, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Imo and Zamfara states  as those that have not paid  salaries and promotion arrears of polytechnic workers, despite bailout funds as well as the  Paris Club refunds at their disposal.

  • Oyo pays two months’ salary

    The Oyo State government has said it will ensure it clears the salary arrears of its workers’ and pensioners.

    Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Toye Arulogun said despite the shortfall from the Federation Account, the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration will meet its wage obligation to workers.

    He said: “The government is committed to clearing the backlog of salaries owed its workers. In December 2016, the government paid two months salaries for the months of June/July 2016 and repeated the same feat in February 2017 to cater for August/September 2016. The government has now approved and released October/November 2016 payment this month, March 2017, which is another two months’ salary.

    “We are doing a lot of financial reengineering to expedite action on payment of arrears to workers in order to cushion the effects of recession in the country. The government wants to start paying salaries promptly and that is why more efforts are being put in place to clear the backlogs.”

  • Salary: Ondo sets up committee

    Salary: Ondo sets up committee

    The Ondo State government has set up a committee on payment of salary arrears under the chairmanship of Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.
    This is to commence move to pay outstanding salaries arrears from August 2016 to January.
    The committee, which had its inaugural meeting yesterday at the deputy governor’s office, also has as members Head of ServiceToyin Akinkuotu; Mrs F.B Ogundipe (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); Laolu Akindolire (Accountant General); S O Adegoke (Auditor General); Bode Ajigbolamu (Director, Central Pay); Mrs Bosede Daramola, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) Chairperson; Joint Negotiating Committee Chairman Sunday Adeleye Oluwole; National Union of Local Government Employees President (NULGE ) Chairman Bunmi Eniayewu and Service Matters Secretary Bayo Philip, who will serve as secretary.
    Its terms of reference are to calculate the arrears of salaries from August 2016 to January 2017, establish the cause(s) of the unpaid salaries, recommend to government ways and means of effective payment of all arrears and suggest ways of ensuring payment of salaries promptly.
    The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

  • Cleric urges Bayelsa to clear salary arrears

    A clergyman, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, has urged the Bayelsa State government to clear six-month salary arrears owed workers, to avert God’s wrath.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the cleric gave the advice in Yenagoa during a church service to commemorate first anniversary of Governor Seriake Dickson’s second tenure in office.

    Emmanuel, who was the guest preacher, advised the governor to seek solace in God.

    “God is angry when you don’t pay workers. God has asked me to tell you that hired servants should be properly paid,” he said.

    The clergyman said the assignment given by God to public leadership was for a purpose and the purpose was to serve God and benefit mankind.

    Emmanuel, who titled his sermon: “Make God Your Refuge,” quoted from books in the Bible including Psalm 127, James 5:1-5 and Deuteronomy 24:14-15 to illustrate his points.

    He said it was important for the government to appreciate the essence of God’s purpose for instituting government authority for mankind.

    “When God gives a man leadership, there is an assignment he wants to fulfil. Every government is of God, though it may have human mistakes.

    “The cries of the hired servants have come to God and He has heard them. Misapplication of riches is what poses danger, we need wisdom from God to function,” the cleric added.

    Governor Dickson said his re-election for second tenure was tough, but he emerged victorious because God’s hand was upon him.

    He said his government was making efforts within the limited resources available and would take steps to enhance the welfare of its workforce.

    Dickson said the government had achieved so much in the first one year of his second term, in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture, among others.

    “Our dreams are so high that you can’t even use a ladder to see. In the midst of recession, we are building the best schools, roads and hospitals,” he said.

  • Ortom promises to clear salary arrears

    Ortom promises to clear salary arrears

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has promised to clear outstanding salaries of state and local government workers in 2017.

    This was contained in the Governor’s New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

    State workers are owed four months while local government and primary school teachers are owed eight months. Pensioners are owed 13 months.

    Ortom, who felicitated with the people as they stepped into the New Year, said his administration had concluded plans to clear salary arrears in 2017.

    “The wage bill of workers in particular will continue to be a priority as our administration plans to clear outstanding salaries at the state and local government levels,” he said.

    The governor hoped that 2017 would be a better year which would offer greater opportunities to the people in different sectors of the economy