Unpaid Salaries: Workers Declare Indefinite Strike In C/River

The Joint Action Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Cross River has declared an indefinite strike by civil servants in the state over unpaid salaries.

In a release by the Chairman of JAC, Ndoma Akpet, labour said the strike, which commenced on Tuesday, became inevitable following the inability of the outgoing administration to honour its earlier promise to pay the arrears.

“In spite of assurances by the government during the May Day celebration that arrears of salaries will be paid before expiration of the present administration, the government has failed (to fulfil) the promise.

“We, workers, under the employ of the Cross River Government can no longer watch as our lives and destinies are being toyed with and destroyed by an insensitive administration.

“Right now our children are out of school due to inability to pay school fees.

“Also a good number of us are dying because of inability to settle medical bills while starvation is everywhere.

“We are, therefore, calling on all workers under the employ of the state government to stay at home as from Tuesday May 26, 2015 until you hear from us”, it said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Eta, has said the outgoing administration is committed to paying workers’ salaries before leaving office.

“We are surprised that they still embarked on the strike despite the commitment of the government to pay them April and May salaries before May 29”, he said.

(NAN)

Akpabio, Yuguda, Other PDP Governors In Secret Meeting With Obasanjo

Some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party are currently holding a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, ostensibly to pacify the former president, who appears to be dissatisfied with the performance of the current administration of  President Goodluck Jonathan.

In Abeokuta to meet with Obasanjo are Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio, who is the governor of Akwa Ibom State; his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda and Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, among others.

Although the names of the governors on the visit or their numbers could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, it was discovered that the Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, is in the entourage by virtues of the number plates seen on the governor’s escort vehicles. The vehicles bear the state’s marks.

Other governors believed on the trip to the former president’s home are that of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke and his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda.

Our correspondent gathered that Niger State governor, Babangida Aliu, is also at  the meeting.

The purpose of the meeting, according to sources close to the governors may not be unconnected with the frosty relation between Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting is still ongoing.