NLC considers calling strike in 18 states over mounting unpaid salary and pension arrears

NIGERIAN trade union leaders are considering calling a nationwide strike in 18 states over the non-payment of salary arrears that has become a major political dilemma with some states owing their workers as much as a year's wages.

 

Having just concluded general elections, Nigeria's state governors are broke as many of them used public funds to bankroll their parties and fund campaigns. This has led to the growth of salary arrears and in several states, workers have been left destitute, resorting to begging for food and money.

 

Under pressure over the development, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) sent its task force team to the various geo-political zones of the country to view the situation. NLC general secretary Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, said that a strike has started in Plateau State, adding that a similar exercise will begin in Cross River State on Monday.

 

On March 19, the NLC's national administrative council set up a task force to pursue payment of salary arrears owed workers by some state governments. According to the task force's report, some 19 states owe salaries and pensions.

 

Dr Ozo-Eson said: “Plateau is on strike, Cross Rivers is going on Monday and the various task forces are working. A team is leaving for Benue to commence action and they are now free to commence action and we are supporting them.”

 

States owing salaries or pensions include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara. However, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, the FCT, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba are not indebted to their workers.

 

According to the NLC report Abia State had not paid salaries of workers of the state teaching hospital for nine months. It is also owing workers of the Hospital Management Board eight months’ salary, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, six months, the Abia State Polytechnic five months, local government workers four months and teachers are owed three months’ salary arrears.

 

It was stated that while Enugu State had paid salaries of civil servants up to date, parastatals were owed 12 months’ salaries and pension and gratuity remain unpaid since 2010. Osun State is owing six months’ salary and pension arrears, Plateau owes six months salaries and seven months pension, Benue five months salaries and four months pension arrears, Kogi four months pension and salary arrears and Oyo three months salaries and between five and 11 months pension arrears.

 

Ekiti owes three months unpaid salaries, while Jigawa owes judiciary workers a month salary arrears. Ondo owes one month salary and pension, while Ogun owes one month salary and 52 months of unremitted pension deductions to the Pension Fund Administration.

 

Although Zamfara State has paid workers’ salaries up to date, the salaries of workers who were recruited in 2014 have not been paid. Rivers State owes one month of workers’ salaries and three months of pension while Kano has yet to pay newly employed teachers for three months.