The Nation Newspaper

Tag: workers’ salaries

  • Strike may delay Fed workers’ salaries, AGF warns

    ACCOUNTANT-General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris has warned that the labour strike might delay workers’ salaries.

    The warning came as the seven-day strike ordered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) paralysed activities at federal secretariat, Abuja.

    According to a statement signed by Ifeanyi Okereke, for Head of Press and Public Relations (OAGF), Idris said the payment of salaries would not be achieved in an atmosphere where his workers were not allowed access to their offices.

    The AGF noted that “salary payment involves a number of processes that do not begin and end with the OAGF”.

    “There are other critical stakeholders like the Cash Management Department in Ministry of Finance and others who are supposed to do their job before we can finalise.

    “We have a standing order from Mr. President to pay workers’ salaries from the 25th of every month, which we have striven hard to fulfill to Nigerian workers and this month will not be an exception,” the AGF said.

    Idris added: “On coming to the office this morning (yesterday), we met the gates of the office locked and wondered how we can keep this promise if we are being locked out of the office.  After speaking with the local arm of the Labour in the office on the need to pay salaries, they conceded to allow me and some of my staff in, but the gates were still locked. I, therefore, appeal to labour to open our gates so that we can have unhindered access to meet their needs.”

    The AGF appealed to the labour leadership to reconsider their stand on the on-going strike, saying the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari had demonstrated high commitment towards meeting workers’ welfare.

    He urged labour to trust Buhari “and return to the path of discussion and negotiation”.

    According to Idris, the President has demonstrated enough commitment by setting up the tripartite committee.

    The committee, which is headed by Ms Amal Pepple, is saddled with the responsibility of consulting widely with stakeholders with a view to coming up with a realistic and acceptable minimum wage.

    He cautioned: “We are all working for the same system and we should do nothing that could threaten the economy and lead to the collapse of the same system.”

    The AGF had at the end of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting (FAAC) on Wednesday promised that salaries of Federal Government’s workers would be paid.

    But public and civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stayed away from their offices, which locked.

    In compliance with the strike, the gate of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the Court of Appeal, Ministries and agencies within the FCT were locked.

    The Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Environment were also closed as union members used their vehicles to block the entrance to some of the buildings.

    Also, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) was empty as only few senior staff members were seen reporting for work.

    Few other senior officers, who had reported for work, were seen sitting idle at the gate and discussing in groups at the federal secretariat, Abuja.

    Some school children in uniforms, who had reported for school, were seen returning homes due to the strike.

    Some of the public school teachers said they were not informed about the strike, and therefore, turned their pupils and students back.

    However, the strike had little impact on the social and commercial activities in some satellite towns Kubwa, Mararaba, Karu, Gwagwalada among others in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Protesters were sighted at the federal secretariat with placards with different inscriptions that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate and prosecute the alleged fraud and sabotage of the nation’s power sector.

    The protester later matched to the EFCC office to submit the petition.

  • How we share Ondo revenue, by Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday met with government workers through the leadership of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) to discuss workers’ welfare.

    The workers, led by the JNC Chairman, Opeyemi Oloniyo, hailed the governor for his commitment to regular payment of salary, timely promotions, appointment of qualified permanent secretaries and the infrastructural development across the state.

    Akeredolu assured the workers that his administration would pay their leave bonus as soon as the fortune of the state improved.

    The governor gave a breakdown of how the revenue accruable to the state was shared between the local government areas and the state government and how it was being spent.

    He sought the understanding of the workers, saying the allocations were used to offset workers’ salary at the expense of infrastructural development.

    According to him, this will not benefit the large number of the residents who are not public servants.

    Akeredolu said the state’s public servants constituted only 35 per cent of the population, adding that using all the state’s resources to cater for them was unfair to the rest of the population.

    Oloniyo expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to workers’ welfare.

    He said: “On your first day of resumption when you addressed public servants, you promised not to owe us salary. We thank you for keeping to your promise.

    “We appreciate you also for the payment of salary arrears. You inherited seven months’ salary arrears and you have paid four out of them. We thank you, sir.

    “We also want to thank you, despite the precarious financial situation we find ourselves. You made our promotion possible last year.

    “Let us also appreciate you for the appointment of permanent secretaries, even those who do not know anybody in government. We must also thank you for the various infrastructural development in our state.”

  • Why we are not paying salaries regularly – Kogi Govt

    The Kogi State Government says huge loan servicing is responsible for its inability to pay the salaries of its workers regularly.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the state Director-General, Media and Publicity made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.

    Fanwo said that the loans were taken by the two previous administrations for projects that did not add value to the state.

    “Sometimes, we repay between N400 million and N500 million monthly as loans that add no value to the state.

    “These loans were taken by the last two administrations and some of them were invested on projects that were never completed.

    “When you go out, you will see Kogi Hotels, billions of naira was collected for that project and it was not completed, and it is not adding any value to the state.

    “Also, the Kogi House in Abuja has gulped billions of naira, yet, it is not completed, not adding any value to the state,’’ he said.

    The DG said the previous administrations collected N200 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) development, which was not used for the purpose intended.

    According to him, rather than using the money for SMEs development, some people just shared the money.

    “There is no record of anybody given loan and now we are repaying. So all of these have taken its toll on the resources and finances of the state’’

    He said despite the poor resources accruing to the state, the government still strive to pay workers’ salaries.

    “We cannot shy away from the fact that the resources that is coming to the state now has dwindled due to the loans we are repaying.

    “It is increasingly difficult to muster enough resources to pay salaries regularly.

    “As I speak with you, we are still owing March and April salaries,’’ Fanwo said.

    He said despite the dwindling resources of the state, the government will remain committed in the payment of salaries even if not as when due.

    “When you do a comparative analysis of wages in the North Central geo political zone, Kogi pays the highest and despite that, we have been very faithful,’’ Fanwo said.

    The DG denied allegations that workers were being owed 24 months salary.

    He said those peddling the falsehood were the people that benefited from the rot in the state in the past.

    On bailout funds received from the Federal Government, Fanwo said that they were used to pay workers’ salaries.

    He, however noted that the bail out funds were not free gifts.

    “The bailout funds were not gifts from the Federal Government, it was more or less a loan, so you have to prioritise what you use your bailout funds for.

    “So, we used it basically for salaries and we were the only state in the federation that published how we used that bailout funds.

    “Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of this administration,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Ebonyi denies owing workers’ salaries

    Ebonyi denies owing workers’ salaries

    Ebonyi State Government Tuesday debunked media reports  which named it as one of the states owing their workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities, describing the report as baseless and falsehood.

    Governor David Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor in a statement on Tuesday described the Vanguard newspaper report as not only embarrassing but mischievous devoid of any facts and value.

    The statement further described the publication trying to link Ebonyi state among the states owing salaries as frivolous and malicious, adding that Ebonyi state since the inception of Governor Umahi’s administration has never failed to pay workers’ salaries on or before 25th of every month and teachers’ on the 15th of every month.

    Uzor also disclosed that a state that just released workers’ promotion and leave allowances in addition to 13th month salaries could not have been said to be owing salaries, and called on the general public to disregard the publication which he said was oozing with an odorous lies.

    “The report linking Ebonyi state government with some of the states across the country owing their workers’ salaries came to us as a shock. I make bold to say that the report was not only false, embarrassing and malicious but also a demonstration of ignorance in governance especially as it concerns a state like ours where workers’ welfare form the bedrock of our conflicting priorities”

    “While Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi does not see prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries as a special service to the workers but as right, he has been committed to the welfare of workers and has ensured that they are paid every month and today, there is no worker in the state civil service both at the state and local government levels that is being owed a half month salary. The records are there”

    “It is no longer news that Ebonyi state government under the able leadership of Governor David Umahi is not owing any salary but went as far as clearing a backlog of workers’ salaries since 2006, pensions and gratuities which he inherited upon his emergence as governor in 2015″, Uzor wrote.

    Mr Uzor said that there is also another N2b set aside by the state government for all civil servants in the state different from their normal emoluments to access and develop themselves economically.

    “Stand to be challenged that workers in the state have keyed into this empowerment programme to better their lots”, he added.

    The Chief Press Secretary also lampooned the report and called on the general public to disregard such harmful publication.

    “In the light of the above, I call on Nigerians to disregard this injurious reports which I see as a deliberate sabotage on the image and sincerity of the state government towards workers’ welfare”.

  • Christmas: Buhari advises governors to clear workers’ salaries 

    Christmas: Buhari advises governors to clear workers’ salaries 

    President Muhammadu Buhari  yesterday advised governors to clear workers’ outstanding salaries before Christmas.

    He also approved payment of 50% Paris Club refund.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai broke the news to reporters at the end of the governors’ meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Okorocha said: “It was a brief meeting between the governors and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The President has expressed the need to ensure that every Nigerian, especially the workers has a beautiful Christmas and the issue of outstanding Paris Club was discussed and that was taken care of, to ensure that workers in various states and everywhere in the country get to celebrate the Christmas.

    ”We also used the opportunity to review our working relationship with the President from the states and we found out that we are in harmony. There is no difference between us and the president. Everybody seems to be happy working together. But, particularly, we commended the president for getting Nigeria out of recession within such a short time. We commended Mr. President and everybody left quite happy.

    ”We are looking at getting the balance of Paris Club refund thrashed out once and for all. We also made a request for Mr. President’s approval that the balance should form part of our 2018 budget, because we can’t include it until we are sure that the money is coming. That was also sorted out.

    ”So, as it is now, the issue of workers took the centre stage and Mr. President was concerned about those who depend on their salaries to feed their families and pay their house rent and he had the assurance from the governors that we will meet up those obligations.

    ”It was emphasised that states and federal governments must work together to get Nigeria out of its present economic predicament to make Nigeria a better society for all of us.”

    Asked if all salary arrears will be cleared before Christmas, Okorocha replied: “Yes, with the Paris Club coming, every worker should enjoy his/her Christmas. I made it clear.”

    El-Rufai explained that what the President approved to pay workers before Christmas is the balance of the first 50% Paris Club refund.

    The states have so far received N516 billion in two tranches as Paris Club refund.

    He said: “Let me explain. The Paris Club figures need to be reconciled. While the reconciliation process was going on, the President approved that 50 per cent of the original amount be paid to the states. The payment started from last year. We still have the balance of the first 50 per cent. This is what the President said should be paid to state governments to meet their obligations before Christmas because he’s concerned that many families depend solely on their salaries for rent, for the festive period.

    ”That has been decided. The balance of the first 50 per cent is what we are expecting now before Christmas. The President has approved that and said it must be paid.”

    Asked to give the amount just approved, he said “I don’t know the amount. I’m sure that if you contact the Ministry of Finance, they can give you the total amount. I only know what my state is likely to get.

    “There is another 50 per cent that needs to be paid when the figures are reconciled. The reconciliation is going to be concluded before the end of the year. The Chief of Staff to the President will ensure that the committee working on the reconciliation will conclude the work before the end of the year.

    “So, what the governors are requesting from the President is a directive – ‘go ahead to include the next 50 per cent in your 2018 budget and that is going to be looked at.’

    “Every state will get its own share of the Paris-Club refund. It will not get more. Every state has a specific amount that was deducted. That amount may be enough to cover the arrears; it may not be, because you cannot get more than you are entitled to. It varies from state to state.

    “My state has no salary arrears at all. So, it’s a mute issue. Kano doesn’t have salary arrears. Whatever we are getting, we just continue with our development projects. Some states have salary arrears that are bigger than the Paris Club refund they are getting. Even when they get it, they will not be able to clear the salary arrears. But it is better to reduce it so that people will have happier Christmas.”

     

  • CAN to FG: Settle workers’ salaries 

    CAN to FG: Settle workers’ salaries 

    The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Sampson Ayokunle, on Friday urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards facilitating the settling of workers’ salaries across the country.

    He spoke with State House journalists after leading CAN delegation to closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, workers are going through untold hardship and measures should be taken to ensure continued harmony in the country.

    He also urged the government to look for ways to increase the number of policemen and women available to Nigerians.

    The clergy also called on the Federal Government to take serious the issue of herdsmen/farmers’ clash in the country.

    Read Also:  Buhari meets members, leadership of CAN in Aso Rock

  • Ortom: NLC blackmailing my government

    Ortom: NLC blackmailing my government

    • Says we inherited N69 billion salaries, Pension arrears

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has said that his state inherited arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity of about N69 billion which the bailout fund and the Paris Club refund has not been able to clear, accusing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the national level of blackmailing his government and inciting workers in the state to embark on strike.

    Ortom who spoke at a book launch in Abuja said his state was paying the highest salary to its workers in the country and challenge the leadership of labour to contradict his claim by coming out with superior facts.

    He also challenge the leaders of Labour to drag his government to the anti-corruption agencies in the country is they feel that he was not fair to Benue workers in the appropriation of the federal government bailout fund to drag his government to the anti-corruption agencies.

    He insisted that the leadership of Labour should do a comparative analysis of remuneration of Benue workers with other states, insisting that he is paying higher than any other state in the country.

    Governor Ortom said his government was open to dialogue, urging anybody with superior programs to tackle the issue to bring it on the dialogue table.

    “I believe that the discussion is still ongoing. We will still talk even though I feel that we should not be discussing our problems in the media. I have told them to bring the issues on the table because government is ready to put all the figures on the table to anyone to see.

    “It is part of our transparency and accountability. One thing I can assure you is that we have formed a process of working towards it. It is not enough for the leadership of the labour union to incite the workers to go on strike at the National level and Benue state.

    “For me, it is not the best way of unionism and taking care of workers. Benue State has a peculiar problem. We inherited a debt arrears of N69 billion of pension, gratuity and salaries.

    “Now, the intervention from the federal government called Paris Club or bailout as they call even though it is a loan all together could not clear the N69 billion debt arrears. So, the challenge is still there and everybody knows about it.

    “The figures are on the table for everyone to see. For us, Benue is one of the States in the country paying the highest salary as at today I am talking to you. I challenge you to compare your note.

    “In other states where Permanent Secretaries are collecting N230, 000, we are paying N500, 000 because that is what we inherited. We believe in dialogue and discussion and if you have superior programs that can make things better for Benue people bring them on the table for discussion.

    “It is not just enough to go and incite people to go on strike to prove that that government is not paying. They should ask what has been the history. I challenge them to do analysis of what has been on ground.

    “The good thing is that none of the anti-corruption agency can indict us for misappropriation of bailout fund because we have been very transparent. That is where we are now,” he said.

  • ‘Mimiko, pay workers’ salaries’

    A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Chief Willy Akinlude, has taken a swipe at the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko over his inability to pay salaries of members of staff of the state civil service. Chief Akinlude urged the governor to clear the backlog of salaries owed workers before he lives office, because, he said, labourers deserve their wages.

    Chief Akinlude, who stated this at a function in Mushin, Lagos said his party failed in the just-concluded gubernatorial election due to abandonment of the late Agagu’s legacies and under-achievement of Mimiko’s administration.

    Noted for his outspokenness, the two-time Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, Chief Akinlude scored the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration low, even as he doubted the the ability of the Ondo State governor-elect to perform under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Akindolu added that the APC government has failed to tackle the current economic recession.

    He said he could not see new Ondo State under Akeredolu. As an Ondo State indigene, he urged Akeredolu to revive all the projects abandoned by Mimiko’s administration.

    On the crisis in PDP, he, however, stressed that the major actors, Sheriff and Markafi are both strong members, saying the later will not abandon the PDP. Peace, he said, will return to the party as soon as a new party is formed.

  • Students protest indefinite shutdown of Bayelsa varsity

    Students protest indefinite shutdown of Bayelsa varsity

    Students from the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Saturday, protested the indefinite closure of the university following the inability of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson to pay backlog of workers’ salaries.

    The students under the aegis of the Niger Delta Visionary Movement (NDVM) also knocked other students’ bodies such as the Student Union Government of Niger Delta University (SUG-NDU), National Union of Bayelsa state students (NUBSS) and the National union of Izon-Ebe Students (NUIS) describing them as puppets.

    The aggrieved students in a statement signed by the Spokesman, NDVM, Mr. Wisdom Adike, threatened to march naked with their books and block the entrance to Government House if after a week the stakeholders failed to settle their rift and open the university.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike following the inability of Dickson to pay its members.

    Adike said: “We wish to bring to the notice of the general public, that the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Niger Delta University Chapter on 26th April 2016, over nonpayment of salaries, have led to the shutdown of the institution for over 3 weeks now, which have continued to give parents and students great concern.

    “Niger Delta University being the only state owned university is a legacy established by the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha who was recently laid to rest. The institution has not only helped in meeting the manpower needs of the state but the entire Niger Delta region and beyond.

    “However, we wish to express our displeasure over the lingering strike and government’s attitude towards resolving the situation noting that the strike has increased hardship, made students to sit idle at home and lose focus on their academic pursuit, as well prolonged their academic programmes, thereby causing youth restiveness and society unrest”.

    He wondered why all the students’ bodies kept sealed lips and toothless over the plights of students and appealed to the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide to intervene and ensure immediate reopening of the school.

    He said: “We also call on the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) to stand up, break their silence and defend the legacy of the ijaw nation by ensuring the immediate reopening of Niger Delta University. This is because now is the time to protect our common heritage.

    “We are also using this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in his magnanimity and benevolence in salvaging the state from the current economic crunch and hardship as parents and guardians especially in the local governments of the state have not received salaries for over 12 months, despite the release of bail out funds by the federal government.

    “Finally, we want to urged all students to embrace peace and calmness as all available non violence means will be utilized to end this strike and return back to school.

    “We also want to state, that if the bayelsa state government, IYC, and other stakeholders fail to give a positive response within one week, then we shall march naked with our books and foams across the state and beyond, we shall occupy creek haven and the east-west road”.

  • Oyo votes entire federal allocation for workers’ salaries

    Oyo votes entire federal allocation for workers’ salaries

    The Oyo State government has agreed to commit its entire share of Federal Allocation to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions in the state.

    This decision was contained in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the end of a meeting between the government’s negotiating team led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Labour led by Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Mr. Waheed Olojede.

    Following a review of the existing MoU where 90 percent of the monthly federal allocation is committed to the payment of salaries and pension, the two parties agreed that the entire allocation would now be devoted to payment of workers’ wages.

    The state government however declined request by the labour leaders, asking that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) also be used to complement the federal allocation where there is a shortfall.

    It was further agreed that a Joint Revenue Mobilisation Committee under the supervision by the office of the Secretary to the State Government, be set up to seek ways to increase the state IGR.

    Addressing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, Olojede said, “In our critical review, we discovered that devoting 90 percent of FG allocation to payment of salaries could not stand the test of time, because salaries kept running into arrears. We then agreed that henceforth, the entire 100 percent of whatever comes from Abuja as federal allocation would be spent to pay workers salaries.”