Akwa Ibom LG Workers On Strike to Protest Non-Payment of Salaries
The Akwa Ibom chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees has begun an indefinite strike to protest the non-payment of salaries to Local government employees for four months.
The state Chairman of NULGE, Felix Udo, revealed on Tuesday that the strike started on Monday because of unpaid salaries and allowances of workers in Abak, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo Local Government Areas. He also said retired members had not been paid gratuities since 2009.
He also cited the irregular computation of salaries and allowances of local government workers by a government-appointed bank as another reason for the strike. He said Local Government workers had not been promoted since 2008 and they had not been paid their leave grants for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
“Local Government Chairmen in the state have been insensitive to the plight of workers. We have been negotiating with them on these issues, but all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
“In Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the workers are owed four months salaries, Abak workers are being owed two months salaries.
“Ikono workers are owed two months salaries, Ini and Uruefong Uruko workers are owed one month salaries each,” Mr. Udo added.
He pleaded with Governor Godswill Akpabio to answer the workers quickly so they could have a pleasant Yuletide with their families while also saying that the affected workers will not go back to work until all their demands were met.
