Uchenna Nwafor, Yenagoa
Thugs on Tuesday in Yenagoa attacked a peaceful protest by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN) demanding salary arrears and alleging diversion of federal government’s bail out fund in Bayelsa.
Loading ...The thugs are believed to be hired by the local government chairmen who are indebted to their workforce.
The thugs resorted to violence as they manhandled the protesting workers including journalists who covered the protest.
Local government workers in the state are currently owed between five and seven months salary arrears despite the fact that Bayelsa government obtained the federal government bail out funds meant to offset salaries in states owing workers.
In a statement issued after the protest by the joint Council of NULGE and MHWUN, said the protest was in line in the struggle to improve the welfare of members in the state.
The statement was signed by Mr Tonye Jaja, NULGE and Mr Arafat Nwibani of MHWUN.
“We are demanding that the affected Chairmen of Coumcils and Commissioner for Local Government should immediately pay from the bailout funds to workers of the affected council to avoid unpleasant consequences and sustain the peaceful industrial atmosphere in the system.
“We unequivocally demand for the full payment of the salary of March; we demand the release of LGAs allocstions to the councils immediately,” the statement stated.
