The Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress and it sister unions have advised the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to use the Paris Club Loan refund released to the state by the federal government to clear backlog of salary arrears owned workers , pensions and gratuities to the senior citizens of the state.
A press statement signed by the state chairman of NLC, Austin Chilakpu, the state chairman of Trade Union Congress, Paul Akalazu and Alloy Iwuanyanwu state chairman of state public service joint egotiating Council, the organised Labour, respectively, on Thursday stated that the state government should use the golden opportunity provided it by the Paris club loan refund to payoff all salary arrears and the rights and privileges of the retirees.
The statement specifically urged the state government to use the loan refund accrued to the state 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 calls on Imo State Government to do the needful and clear all salaries and pension arrears”, it stated.
The organized labour equally urged the governor to equally clear the arrears of salaries owed lawyers in the ministry of justice.
The statement noted that with the huge amount the state got with the Paris club loan refund, the state does not have any good reason not to clear all arrears of salaries, Pension arrears and gratuities meant for the retired civil servants.
The statement noted with delight the recent directive by the governor that workers who were paid fifty percent of their salaries be paid the balance of their salaries immediately.
The organized labour stated that full implementation of the resolutions of other industrial issues being discussed between them and the state government would ensure industrial harmony in the state.
