Dickson to pay workers 50 per cent of monthly salaries from February 2016

Aggrieved workers of Bayelsa state would from February 2016 receive 50 percent of their monthly salaries from the Governor Seriake Dickson led administration.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bayelsa state have also suspended their industrial action taken against the state government over its failure to pay workers’ salaries.

The decision to suspend the strike was reached after a meeting held in Government House in Yenagoa between the labour leaders and the state government on Tuesday.

Following the peaceful resolution of the strike, the state government agreed to pay workers 50 percent of their salaries pending when the federation allocation improves.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, John Ndiomu, said the 50% that is intended to be paid by the government was not a downward review of workers’ salaries; adding that the government is also expected to facilitate payment to MDAs and pensioners in the state.

Accompanied by Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Tari Dounana and the Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, he said that part of the agreement was that no worker in the state will be penalized for their active roles in the strike action which has been suspended, and that the state government is also expected to negotiate with banks to stop further deductions from the state until the economy of the state and the revenue from the federation account improves.

He noted that labour reserves the right to embark on the strike which has been suspended without prior notice to the state government on its failure to fulfill any of the agreements reached.

Speaking on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, the Information Commissioner, Jonathan Obuebite, thanked all the workers for their cooperation.

The commissioner who was also accompanied by the Head of Service, Peter Singabele urged labour to work with the government towards the actualization of the agreements as they cannot succeed without the help and cooperation of the workers.