Unpaid Salary: Workers begin stay at home tomorrow
The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed civil servants in Ekiti states to begin an indefinite "stay at home" immediately to save the souls of the teaming hungry workers and aggrieved workers in the state." Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ekiti State, Kolawole Olaiya, has said that the inability of Governor […]
The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed civil servants in Ekiti states to begin an indefinite "stay at home" immediately to save the souls of the teaming hungry workers and aggrieved workers in the state."
Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ekiti State, Kolawole Olaiya, has said that the inability of Governor Ayo Fayose led administration to pay workers’ salary is an indication that "Ekiti has become a failed state. ‘
Olaiya said the basic function of government is paying salaries and other emoluments of its employees.
In a joint statement signed by NLC Secretary Comrade Olayemi OJP, JNC Secretary Blessing Oladele and TUC secretary Adebayo J. A, the organised Labour reminded Fayose of the 48 hours ultimatum given to him to pay all deductions and five months salaries which expired on Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters in Ado Ekiti, on, Olaiya said the shortfall of allocation from the Federation Account is not an enough excuse not to pay workers.
He said unless the state government accedes to the demands of labour by midnight of Wednesday, industrial action is expected to commence by Thursday.
It would be recalled that Olaiya’s chairmanship of Ekiti TUC was affirmed by a judgment delivered by the Nigeria Industrial Court, Akure Division in October 2013 which ruled that his tenure expires in October 2016.
The TUC boss said Fayose’s inability to pay workers’ salaries cannot be justified when his administration is spending billions of Naira to construct a flyover in Ado Ekiti.
He also expressed regrets that retirees who are being owed about six months arrears of pensions are dying at home over the non-payment of their benefits.
Olaiya said: "Every government is created for the security and welfare of the people and it is criminal for any government not to pay its workers salaries as it is in Ekiti State.
"In a situation where a government cannot pay for five months, such a government is a failed government. All the indices on display in Ekiti presently show that it has become a failed state.
"We don’t expect Governor Fayose to be treating workers like this, he should not compensate them with suffering and non-payment of their salaries after they voted him to power and welcomed him to office amidst singing and dancing.
"His own is a failed state, the governor is not doing anything to improve the welfare of the people. Look at the flyover being constructed, that is not the priority of our people.
"He is trying to waste Ekiti funds, Fayose has failed pensioners, he has failed workers and he has failed everybody.
"The workers have resolved not to go to work again because they don’t have the money to feed and transport themselves to their offices. The situation is so bad and what I am saying can be verified by anybody."