Pandemonium reigned supreme yesterday at Ugwunagbo local government council of Abia State as workers protested the delay in the payment of their May, June and July 2012 salaries. The irate workers barricaded the main gate of the secretariat with palm fronds chanting war songs.
The workers lament that the state government has been insensitive to their plight as they insist no concrete action has been made to settle the arrears of the three months salaries.
“The state government deceived us again; they promised to pay us before the 1st day of August and failed. This is why we are protesting,” one of the workers who gave his name as Chima said.
The protesting workers visited the offices of the Transition Committee Chairman, Chief Munachim Alozie who they alleged have not been seen at the secretariat for a month now. They later dispersed, promising to continue the protests today if the salaries were not paid.
247ureports. com gathered that there has been confusion in all 17 local councils as workers lament their fate. It was also gathered that council officials have abandoned their duty posts to avoid the wrath of the workers.
“Since the workers became anxious about their salaries, senior officials like the Transition Chairmen, their deputies, Heads of Administration, Heads of Personnel Management at the council secretariats have shunned the secretariats,” a source hinted.
It was further gathered that council secretariats in the state are deserted as workers reluctantly resume work daily, log in to the controversial biometric data system and return to their homes.
Across section who was interviewed on the situation said,” What do you want us to do? We have to fulfill our obligation while the Gov. Theodore Orji would fail to do his part by delaying our salaries,” they chorused Recall that council workers in Abia state, embarked on a warning strike last week. The strike action was called off after Gov. Orji promised to settle the May and June salaries, between the last week and the first day of August, a promise which he did not keep.
