Unpaid Salaries: Ekiti Workers On Strike

Workers in Ekiti State yesterday began indefinite strike over two months unpaid salaries and allowances by the outgoing Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Organised labour unions, under the leadership of Joint Negotiating Council, also criticised the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state for not protecting the interest of workers.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, the JNC Chairman, Comrade Oladipupo Johnson, said the August and September salaries had not been paid.
He also said June and July deductions from the workers’ salaries had not been remitted by the government.
Johnson said, “It is unfortunate to note that in spite of the pronouncement and promises from top government functionaries, there seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Sequel to the following, the workers of the public service had met and directed that no worker should come to work today, October 2, 2014 and this subsists until all conditions are met.
“And any worker who refuses to obey this simple directive does so at his or her own risk since the leaders would not take responsibility for anything that happens.”
Johnson, who said the council had been in dialogue with the governor in the last three months to resolving the issue, expressed surprise that the workers were not paid even after government received two allocations.
“We don’t want to stay back and allow our people to be dying on the streets because we are gradually becoming beggars. The government has not paid salaries in the last two months, that is why we ask them to be at home and look for alternative way of existence.
“They are owing full salaries for August and September and 60 percent deductions in the June and July salaries. And going by evidence we had, the governor had collected two allocations without remembering that these salaries should be paid.
“We have met with the Head of Service, the Accountant General and other relevant people and what they agreed was that the salaries will be paid by October 1, 2014.
“But I want to assure you that the workers will resume work as soon as the two months salaries are paid as well as the June and July deductions.”
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has promised to review most of the policies taken in the twilight of the outgoing governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
He stated this while reacting to the appointment of new eight permanent secretaries by Fayemi, whom he accused of playing politics with issues that have dire consequences on the welfare of the state.
But the Governor has said he made the appointments in order to inject new bloods into the state civil service and to fill vacant positions.
He denied that the decision was to plant civil servants who had sympathy for his party in the system.
Fayose, in a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, wondered why all these activities were taking place in the twilight of Fayemi’s departure from office.
He said recent actions by Fayemi showed that he was desperate and playing politics of vendetta by putting stumbling blocks on the way of the incoming administration.
Fayose said, “As much as we are not opposed to people progressing in their chosen careers, one finds the recent appointments questionable. The questions the people of the state should help ask Fayemi include which ministries the new PS will be attached to? Will two PS man a ministry? Are there vacancies that the new PS will fill?
“It is very ridiculous for Fayemi who has less than two weeks to leave office to appoint permanent secretary for the incoming administration. It shows how evil the APC is.
“In the last four months, the outgoing government has created 19 new LCDAs, employed 3000 workers without following due process and right now backlog of salaries of workers are yet to be paid and workers are currently on strike.
“It is evident that Fayemi does not love Ekiti State. His activities are not statesmanlike and honourable. Nigerians should now know that his activities are to put stumbling blocks on the path of the incoming government,” the statement added.
Reacting on behalf of Fayemi, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, said “The eight appointments came as a result of vacancies brought about by the retirement of some Permanent Secretaries in the Civil Service, which must be filled.
“And I can tell you that we are in government till October 15, 2014 and we will not hesitate to take the proper actions if there are vacancies to fill as long as there is budgetary provision for it.
“Opposition should not be worried for whatever action taken by our administration for we are going to be held responsible for whatever action taken in the last four years. They should stop crying blue murder when such did not arise,” Ekundayo said.

R-L:Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, former Executive Chairman, Oyigbo Local Government Area, Hon Felix Nwaeke, Commissioner for Works, Chief Victor Giadam and member, House of Representatives, Hon Barry Mpigi,at the 75 years birthday celebration of chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King G.N.K.Giniwa in Port Harcourt, recently