Kogi Workers Reject Bello’s Offer To Pay Half Salaries

Labour union in Kogi State has rejected government’s offer to pay half salaries to workers. This development has led to a bleak sallah in the state.

The workers objected to the state government’s offer of fifty per cent of their salaries due to the paucity of funds in the state’s coffers.

The labour union said its rejection of half salaries proposed by the state followed a meeting by the union and the government, which was deadlocked.

In the bulletin issued at the end of the joint meeting of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Public Sector Joint Negotiation Council, the union stated that it was surprised that after collection of bailout fund, first and second tranches, from the London Paris Club refund and the  monthly allocations, the government was still offering half salaries.

The bulletin among others stated that labour unanimously rejected the proposed 50 per cent payment of salaries for the month of July, 2017, adding that any payment short of 100 per cent shall be regarded as a sallah gift to workers.

The Unions therefore advised the state government to jealously guide the money at her disposal and keep it in safe custody.

The organised labour also demanded for an explanation on how government arrived at 3.1bn as wage bill, even when reasonable number of workers had not been paid.