Attention! Nasarawa State Government Communique On Workers Salaries

Joseph I. Anchom, Lafia: The attention of Nasarawa State Government has been drawn to insinuations and innuendos borne out of mischief by some unpatriotic elements with regard to Government’s compassion, magnanimity, and respect for principles of negotiation and adherence to the status quo ante as agreed by both parties. This is in tandem with the understanding reached with the Federal Ministry of Labour, National Human Rights Commission and the National Leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress while negotiations with the State Labour Union continues.

In keeping with its good faith approach, Government reverted to status-quo and paid salary arrears of May/June to workers while taking steps to, on compassionate ground, evaluate its position on the July/August salaries to workers that abstained from work during the period.

Meanwhile, Government has paid Nasarawa State workers their September salaries. This followed a meeting of the Governor with State Labour Leaders on Wednesday 12th October 2016 where details of FAAC accruals to the State were fully explained to them and amount available for salaries was fully discussed before disbursement of salaries.

The Government is shocked that in spite of all these open doors and transparent approaches, some Labour Leaders went behind the scene to misrepresent what transpired in the meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, both political appointees and all those in the employment of Nasarawa State Government within the Consolidated Salary Scale received 66% being the amount available after deduction of first line charge.

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It should also be noted that banks exposed to employees or workers, made deductions from those granted loans. This explains the low amount of such workers who received loans from the banks and cooperatives. Other workers who did not take such facilities or advances from banks and cooperatives received 66% salary as paid by Government; worthy of note is that Government made it abundantly clear at the meeting with the Organized Labour that arrears of any monthly shortfall will be paid in due course.

Accordingly, we are calling on all workers and people of goodwill to disregard mischief makers who are bent on causing disaffection between the Government, Workers, and the general public.

Finally, Government assures that it will continue to live up to its responsibilities of providing good governance through pragmatic and accountable leadership, in keeping with its mandate and covenant with the generality of the people of Nasarawa State.