We are considering wage award, Otti tells NLC
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Gov Alex Otti with Abia NLC leaders
Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has told organised labour in the state that a committee he put together to consider the issue of N35,000 wage award approved by the federal government for workers has turned in its report.
Governor Otti made the disclosure when he received in audience, the executive members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abia State Council who were on a working visit.
Though the Governor did not disclose what is currently happening to the Wage Award Committee’s report, he however, said that he directed the Committee to deepen its work and report to him.
He also told his visitors that he has directed the Commissioner for Finance to look into the discriminatory salary structure for health workers in the state as it concerned the issue of consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES).
Furthermore, the Governor pledged that his administration would critically look into arrears of salary owed Abia workers in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and parastatals, including ABSUTH, ASUBEB, ASCETA, Abiapoly, primary school teachers, among others, by the previous administration.
According to him, a team is working with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners to reach a resolution on how to defray pension arrears owed the Senior Citizens in the state.
Governor Otti lamented that there were still bad eggs in the Civil Service who still engage in padding of salaries and other vices. He therefore implored NLC to help identify such people who are stealing from the government.
“There are a lot of people who are collecting salaries but are not coming to work. My challenge to NLC is to help us, what they (ghost workers) are doing, they are stealing from you. It is very important you take it as responsibility,” the Governor said.
He noted that his administration may not be sharing money as was the case in the past, but that he was busy creating conducive atmosphere for survival of every Abian, as well as bring back all companies that left the state due to infrastructural decay.
Earlier, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, appealed to the Governor to consider implementing the N35,000 wage bill approved for workers by the federal government, address the high-handedness of some government appointees against civil servants and off-set arrears of salaries ranging from 3-30 months owed various categories of workers by the previous administration.
Comrade Okoro also used the forum to draw the attention of the Governor to the verification issue that has denied some workers their salaries for about 7 months now, alleged victimization of workers by Valumbra flourmill, Aba, among other issues.
He commended Governor Alex Otti for his numerous achievements in office including keeping to his promise of paying salaries to Abia workers on 28th of every month, urging the Governor to see Abia workers as integral part of his administration.
“You are doing well and every Abian is happy. Things are happening. It shows that we did not make mistake when we said we want change.”
