Non-Payment Of Workers Salaries Worry NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna has urged the state government to investigate the non payment of workers’ three months salaries by some local government councils.

The state’s NLC Chairman, Mr Danladi Bissalla, told our correspondent in Kaduna that three local councils had not paid workers their salaries since October.

He said that the affected councils were Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Sabon Gari local government councils.

Bissalla said there was the need to get to the root of the crisis rocking the councils before it got out of control that may lead to labour unrest.

He added that “government needs to set up a high powered committee to investigate the rationale behind this non payment of salaries and leave grants so that the issue can get a lasting solution.

“If it is not addressed, it may cause insecurity in the state.

Let this issue be addressed before the month runs out.’’

He said that there was over N1 billion workers’ pension arrears and “the tenure of the council chairmen is elapsing soon, they will end up leaving heavy burden for their successors.“

The chairman said “the council chairmen had been paying themselves and forgetting the workers.

“The local government workers are not easily placated not even by labour so the state government should ensure the council chairmen avoid anything that might cause disaffecting by ensuring regular payment of salaries”.

Meanwhile, when The Tide visited Makera, headquarters of Kaduna South Local Government some workers, who had earlier embarked on strike, were seen receiving one month salary through table payment.

The Tide learnt that the state government had intervened by releasing N151 million to the affected councils to offset the outstanding salaries and that would be deducted from their monthly federal allocations.

On assumption of office on May 22, Gov. Patrick Yakowa released all outstanding funds meant for local government councils to enabled them to settle their liabilities.