Borno Labour condemns half salary payment

BY ABDULLAHI ISAHI, MAIDUGURI

The Borno State Counicl of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned plans by some state governments to commence payment of half salaries to workers, saying the move was inimical to the welfare of workers in the country.

The state chairman of the NLC, Comrade who disclosed this in Maiduguri at a solidarity rally organized by the Union to protest the killing of two workers in Nasarawa State said “Labour condemns in totality plans in some states to pay half salary to workers especially in Bayelsa and Nassarawa states in addition to reduction of allowances of workers in other states in the name of drop in statutory allowances to states from the Federation Account,”

He said the labour has observed “un-salutary policies” of some state governments including attempts to reduce workers’ salaries, reduction in work days and introduction of farming in Imo State among others. “In other states, attempts were made to reduce workers salary despite the non implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage in full while other states lay off workers unceremoniously,” he said.
Also commenting on verification of workers to flush out “ghost workers” in some states, he said the union supported the exercise but expressed concern about the pace and manner of the verification in many states. He said the labour was demanding “clear-cut direction of verification and outright punishment” of those found to have perpetrated such illegality in the civil service.

He also condemned what he called growing violence and intolerance of the Nigerian police against workers and students during rallies or protests to exercise their freedom of speech and association, urging the Federal Government to intervene.