by Onyebuchi Ememanka
Yesterday at Government House Umuahia, I sat down in an exclusive chat with the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe.
I took him on, on issues regarding salary payment to Abia workers and especially, the Paris Club refunds and its disbursement.
Comrade Obigwe said that the management and disbursement of the Paris Club refunds in Abia was handled differently in Abia State.
First, the Governor sought for and obtained the approval of the State Legislature to commit 50% of the funds into payment of salary arrears. He then set up a committee made up mainly of leaders of workers unions to oversee the disbursement. According to the Labor leader, it is only in Abia that this took place.
In other states, according to him, the government just made available some money and commenced payment without carrying the workers along on the actual amount being spent.
“Governor Ikpeazu invited the labor leaders, laid the cards on the table. Everything was open. We knew how much that came in and how much to be spent on salaries. We did the computation ourselves and decided who gets what. The Governor did not interfere with the process and he allowed us free hand to ensure that this money is applied for the good of Abia workers. We are greatly impressed with the Governor and his commitment to the welfare of the workers. I have spoken with my colleagues in other states and I can assure you that this never happened in any other state”.
Continuing, the labor leader said that at some point during their deliberations, they realized that the 5.3 Billion Naira earmarked for the exercise won’t even go anywhere and they wanted workers, at least, in the MDAs to get their 2016 leave allowances. The committee needed an additional 560 Million Naira to make this happen. They approached the Governor and he quickly approved that the funds be made available to the committee for the payment of 2016 leave allowances to workers. By this, instead of the initial 5.3 Billion approved for the exercise, it gulped a total sum of 5.860 Billion Naira. The man expressed the appreciation of the committee and Abia workers to the Governor.
Transfer to bank accounts of workers will commence immediately.
I asked him again why he felt it was difficult for government to be up to date with salary payment in the state.
The labor leader said…The money is simply not enough. We have the statistics. The total funds that accrue to the state cannot carry the wage bill and remember too that government doesn’t just pay salaries. They provide other services too. This is a very complex situation for us, especially when we have all the information and know that what is available is not enough.
He expressed hope that when finances improve, Abia workers will be the first to notice because the Governor’s commitment to this is not in doubt.
While giving me a breakdown of the disbursement, Comrade Obigwe said that apart from the 2016 leave allowance to workers in Ministries, Agencies and Departments, the MDA workers also got one month which brings their salaries up to November 2016.
State Pensioners got two months while Local Government pensioners got one month. Local Government workers got one month bringing them up to October 2016. Primary school teachers got two months while secondary school teachers got one month. Core staff of ASUBEB got two months while ABSUTH workers got one month. Staff of the Hospitals Management Board got two months, etc.
I also took him up on the issue of ABIAPOLY and the incidences of salary arrears. The labor leader pointedly told me that the management and board of the institution have questions to answer. He compared the institution which is in the heart of Aba with a large fee paying student population and the State University at Uturu. While the University has remained self sustaining, the Polytechnic has not. He called on the Governor to take a hard look at the way the institution is run. He stated that the committee allocated two months arrears to the workers of the institution.
He ended by saying that the State NLC and other labor unions are committed to the protection of the welfare of the workers in the state.
I am grateful to Comrade Uchenna Obigwe for his openness and forthrightness.
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