The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to pay gratuities to retirees of the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, promotion arrears to Civil servants and leave grants to local government workers in the State.
The NLC made the call in Uyo after the emergency meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the Congress in Akwa Ibom State.
In his remarks, Comrade Sunny James, Chairman of the NLC in the state noted that several petitions have been endorsed by Senior Citizens of the State through the Nigeria Union of Pensioners to the Labour Union over nonpayment of gratuities.
Comrade James said the Executive committee met and decided that the leadership of NLC should work together with the Akwa Ibom State Government towards ensuring that the gratuities which he said is a staggering sum is paid to the senior citizens.
The Chairman further noted that clearing of these gratuities will give hope to other civil servants who are retiring on a daily basis.
In his words “It is on record that more than 70 teachers retired in the last three weeks and more are retiring in Nursing. This meeting resolved that gratuities should be paid.”
The Chairman acknowledged the release of some funds but noted that the funds so far released are not enough. He therefore called on the Governor to release more money on a month-by-month basis.
The Labour leader also spoke on the nonpayment of promotion benefits to workers. According to him, it is the resolution of Congress that the style of promotion where members will not be paid arrears should be discontinued.
He said that every issue that has to do with 2022 promotions should be attended to and concluded before 2022 is over. “The implementation should also be carried out to avoid arrears in the coming years.
“The Governor should pay leave grants. We commend him for paying leave grants from August to December. We call on him to make sure that leave grants of local government workers in 2020 and 2021 are released in full without further delay,” he stressed.
In another development, the State Chairman of the NLC commended the Governor for the completion of ring road III among other roads currently receiving attention. He appealed to the Governor for more attention in areas such as, human capital development where workers and youths will get empowered to grow businesses.
