Pensioners And Workers Protest Non-Payment Of Salaries In Owerri

WORKERS in various Imo State ministries, agencies and parastatals
yesterday disrupted major streets in Owerri, shutting down economic
activities over unpaid salaries and pensions allegedly spanning 23
months.

They had barricaded the entrance to the Imo State House of Assembly,
preventing legislators and officials from entering the premises, but
later moved to the Freedom Square in the heart of the city.

Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Austin Chilapku, and
his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Paul Akalazu, expressed
disgust at the development, lamenting that workers could be owed
salaries for so long.

They further stated: "The organised labour in Imo notes with dismay
the clandestine moves by the lawmakers to repeal and or amend the laws
establishing parastatals for purposes of commercialising them.

"Our claims are verifiable. Workers in the state civil service are
owed over 23 months salaries and we demand that we should be paid.
Schools will soon resume and fees will be paid, rents are due and yet
no salary has been paid. The workers are suffering.

"We are only asking for our right, not trying to unseat the governor;
our claims are not a fluke, we have documents to support our claim."

They noted that the state's economy has been grounded as a result of
non-payment of workers. Reacting to the incident, however, the Chief
Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, urged understanding,
alleging rather that the workers were being instigated by political
opponents.

"It has become increasingly necessary for the state government to
sincerely appeal to the organized labour to demonstrate high sense of
patriotism in their actions and inactions, and avoid becoming willing
tools in the hands of a few elements who do not wish the state and her
people and even the government of the day well," he said.

"One had expected the leaders to appreciate the concerted effort the
state government has been making to totally deal with the issue of
salaries and pensions. The labour leaders are also expected to show
understanding, knowing what the general situation is at the moment
across the nation."