Tension has engulfed the 17 local council secretariats in Abia State as workers embark on strike over the payment of May, June and July, 2012 salaries.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Eze Idima told 247ureports.com that the strike will continue until salaries are paid.
When our correspondent visited the Umuahia North council headquarters in the state capital, the gates were locked while workers gathered outside discussing the situation. In an interview with a group of workers, they accused the state government of being insensitive to their plight
“The government has not paid us salaries for three months now. Most of us are yet to receive the April salaries because of the biometric data system. Why are we being treated this way? Salaries are always paid in arrears, they will owe us three months at a time and pay one month. This had been the system here. You the press people should help us to address this problem. What do they use the allocations to the local governments for?” one of the workers said.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Gov. Theodore Orji, Ugochukwu Emezue said the delay in the payment of salaries was caused by the need to harmonize biometric data system. He added that the governor has set up a committee to review the biometric system.
247Ureports.com gathered that the state Chapter of NULGE had earlier declared a warning strike which ended yesterday. Also, Gov. Orji has constituted a committee chaired by his Chief of Staff, Chief Cosmas Ndukwe to review the biometric data system with a view to getting rid of obstacles to the prompt payment of salaries.
