The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that the failure of the Olusegun Mimiko led Ondo State government to pay salaries of workers and pensions for months was an act of criminality against the workers and the pensioners.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said this in a letter dated June 3, 2016, to the State governor over unpaid salaries and pension arrears for state workers and four months of unpaid salaries and pension arrears for local government employees.
He pointed out that the non-payment of salaries and pensions constituted a danger to the workers, their families, their self esteem and moral.
Wabba, however, urged the government to treat the issue of payment of workers’ salaries which had resulted in strike in the state with seriousness, adding that Mimiko, who according to him, had an activitist’s background, had collaborated with the NLC on similar issues in the past.
The NLC President added that the current socio-economic situation in the country would not be enough to deprive workers and pensioners their deserved salaries and pensions.
“I wish to convey to you the compliments of the Nigeria Labour Congress and to request your urgent re-consideration and intervention in the matter of non-payment of salaries and pensions which has led to a strike action in the state.
“Your Excellency, we are not unaware of the present socio-economic challenges in the country.
“However, in our estimation, this should not be an acceptable reason for not paying five months salaries and pensions at the level of the state, and four months salaries and pensions at the level of local government and teachers.
“Sir, you do not need a lecture from anyone, to know that non-payment of salaries and pensions for months on end, constitutes a crime against the workers, pensioners and their families whose lives and obligation to Man and God and their sense of self-worth have been put in jeopardy.
“As one with activist background and one with whom we have had collaboration, these issues are clear and self-evident, and therefore need no belabouring.”
Wabba advised the governor to ‘take a critical look at government expenditure in the area of political appointments.’
He also called on the governor to inject more effort in the area of generating revenue internally.
