NLC urges Okorocha to clear salaries, pension arrears with Paris Club loan
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Imo State chapter, has called on the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to use the Paris Club Loan refund to clear arrears of salaries, pensions owed workers and pensioners in the state.
A press release jointly signed by Comrades Austin Chilakpu (NLC state chairman), Paul Akalazu (state chairman TUC) and Alloy Iwuanyanwu (state chairman SJPSNC), the organised labour also urged state government to pay 100 percent of salaries to state workers.
The release which was made available to newsmen on Thursday in Owerri urged Okorocha to use the refund to clear 30 months arrears of salaries owed Ada Palm workers redeployed to Ministry of Agriculture.
“The Imo State organized labour wishes to note President Muhammadu Buhari’s emphatic statement that `states’ should use the refund to clear arrears of salaries and pensions.
“Following from these words of Mr. President, the organize labour, Imo State call on Imo State Government to do the needful and clear all salaries and pension arrears.”
The organized labour further called on the state government to equally pay the arrears of salaries owed on lawyers in the Ministry of Justice, “we are making this call due to the substantial amount the state received from the Paris Club loan refund.”
The organized labour also commended the governor for his recent directive that workers who were paid fifty percent of their salaries be paid the balance of their salaries.
The labour noted that full implementation and amicable resolution of other industrial issues being discussed by both parties would l ensure industrial peace in the state. It was learnt that the state governor received $185 million from the federation account as Paris Club loan refund.
