C’River workers accuse Ayade of insincerity over salaries

Workers of the Cross River State Water Board (CRSWB) and those of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) have accused the state government of owing them salary arrears. They said despite the claims by Governor Ben Ayade that all workers in the state received their salaries and emoluments as at when due, only a […]

Workers of the Cross River State Water Board (CRSWB) and those of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) have accused the state government of owing them salary arrears.

They said despite the claims by Governor Ben Ayade that all workers in the state received their salaries and emoluments as at when due, only a handful of workers in critical state departments actually received payment alerts from the banks.

The workers, who numbered over 100, recently blocked the main entrance to Gov. Ayade’s office for about five hours. The water board staff claimed that they were being owed 18 months, while those of the CRGIA said they were being owed 15 months.

The workers said they were tired of ill treatment meted out to them by both government officials and pressure from their landlords and families. One of the workers, Mr. Itam Effiom, said, “As I speak to you I have been unable to pay last year’s rent, not to talk of this year’s. My two children have been out of school over fees.”

The workers, some of who are casual staff of the water board, claimed that the governor had promised to offset the backlog before but that he had reneged. In a letter they addressed to Gov. Ayade, the workers said in 2017 alone they generated N260m and that the total of their 15 months salaries was just N55m, wondering why the government did not keep to the terms of the law that established the agency which stated that five per cent of the revenue they generated should be paid to them.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Odu Orji, said effort was being made to pay the salaries. Mr. Orji said, “The governor had directed Dr. Stephen Odey to take charge of the board in a bid to ensure that the matter is handled appropriately.”