Edo guber: Labour demands payment of outstanding workers’ salaries
Titus Akhigbe, Benin
Less than two months to the end of Adams Oshiomhole-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Edo State, the organized labour at the weekend demanded for the settlement of all outstanding salaries of workers in the employ of the state government before the expiration of his administration.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ademokun, made the demand on the occasion of a grand reception and thank you ceremony for Governor Oshiomhole in Benin-City.
The Daily Times reports that workers in several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state have embarked on countless state-wide protests over the non-payment of salaries.
Ademokun, who noted that all the challenges of workers in the state have not been completely addressed, urged the outgoing governor to clear his table of all pending workers’ issues before leaving office in November 12,2016.
The NLC chairman said the demand was to ensure that the incoming government would not have excuses to relent on issues concerning the workers of the state.
He listed some of the workers’ challenges to include salary of workers in the state-owned institutions of learning, pensioners, local government staff and other categories of workers.
“We recognizes the fact that all the challenges of workers have not been completely addressed, that is why we are persuasively working with the Comrade Governor to clear his table of all pending issues of workers.
“In our higher institutions of learning, the pensioners, local government staff and other categories of workers before he leaves office in November 12, 2016 so that the incoming government will not have excuses to relent on issues concerning the workers of the state”, he said.
Ademokun who commended the outgoing governor for the achievements recorded by his administration in the past eight years in the state noted that the occasion was to appreciate him (governor) for doing the organized labour proud in the governance of the state.
He however announced the resolution of the organized labour in the state to endorse the candidature of the APC candidate for the next Wednesday governorship election, Godwin Obaseki.
According to him, arising from all the achievements of the Comrade Governor’s administration and coupled with the fact that he has done us proud. We are convinced that as he prepares to end his second tenure as governor of Edo State there is need to thank him and give him all the necessary supports to enable his legacies to be sustained.
“And allow further positive developments by honouring him with the massive support of all the working people in Edo state on the 28th of September, 2016 by voting enmasse for Godwin Obaseki, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) so that we do not return to the years of the holocaust.
“It is on this note, that we in the labour movement, have resolved not to stay aloof but mobilize to be active participants in the choice of who governs Edo state after the tenure of our labour generalissimo and ambassador in government, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole”, he stated.
In his remarks, Governor Oshiomhole commended the organized labour in the state for standing by him and his government throughout the past eight years.
Oshiomhole however assured the union that the government of the APC, candidate Godwin Obaseki would sustain the existing government-labour friendly relationship in the state if elected.
He also commended the union for resolving to support the APC governorship candidate in the election.
He however declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays for all the registered eligible voters in the state to fully participate in the election.
