ABIA STATE LABOUR UNIONS SEEK FG ASSISTANCE OVER UNPAID ACCUMULATED SALARIES & PENSIONS

The organized labour in Abia State has called on the federal government to look into the issues of accumulated unpaid pensions and gratuities of workers in the state with a view to offsetting them.

The Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe made the call while briefing newsmen on the outcome of deliberations of the committee set up to disburse ten point six billion naira Paris Club Fund released to the state by the Federal Government.

According to Comrade Obigwe the idea where only fifty percent of the money is used for payment of salaries and pensions of workers in the state is not a welcome development as the arrears of salaries owed workers in the state were much.

He noted that Labour in the state was not happy over the indebtedness of salaries, pensions and gratuities owed workers in the state and called for a probe on how monies allotted to the state from 1999 to 2015 were spent by previous governments.

“Federal Government should wake up to come to Abia State and know what has become of all the funds released to previous administrations, what they have used it (for) that has left much indebtedness and much infrastructural decay in Abia State.”

Comrade Obigwe however assured workers and Pensioners in the state that the fifty percent share of the Paris club funds would be disbursed across board where Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies would receive some month’s salaries.

“So in disbursing it, pensioners in Abia State are to be paid two months. Hospitals Management Board, they are to be paid two months. Primary school teachers that are being owed five months, they are to be paid two months.”

He appealed to the federal government and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the state by assisting government in its efforts to better the welfare of its workers.

BY LAWRENCE NWOKEDI