The strike action embarked upon by workers of the 17 local councils in Abia State has been called off. In a release signed by the state Chairman and Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) Comrades Eze Idima and Peter Eneh, respectively, the union said the strike has been called off as arrangements have been concluded to clear the arrears of the May and June 2012 salaries.
The release stated that the salaries would be paid between today (Thursday) and Wednesday, the 1st day of August, 2012.
According to the source, payment of the salaries would be based on 50% attendance to work as outlined in the biometric data system.”Workers on various forms of leave and those who ate posted to the out stations would also be paid,” the source added.
247ureports.com gathered that the decision to call off the strike action came after the NULGE officials met with Committee headed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chief Cosmas Ndukwe which was charged with the task of reviewing the biometric data system.
247ureports.com that council officials have been mandated to submit their monthly wage bills before the 14th day of each month to enable the Auditor –General for Local Governments harmonize them. A source hinted that the late submission of the wage bill has been one of the main causes of the delay in the payment of salaries to council workers in the state.
Recall that council workers in the state had last week embarked on a warning strike over the delay in the payment of their May and June 2012 salaries.
