Bayelsa govt, NLC in fresh dispute over 50% salary payment

The Bayelsa government has called on the state Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to respect its part of the agreement between them on the 50 per cent salary payment to the state civil servants.

It will be recalled that NLC had earlier this year, agreed to the workers receiving 50 per cent of their salary from the state government.

However in a change of stance, the Congress on Tuesday took to the streets to call on the state government  to review the half salary payment for workers to be getting their full salaries.

According to them, “we are no longer interested in 50 per cent salary payment to the civil servants in the state; the half salary payment is longer sustainable.”

Mr John Ndiomu, NLC's state Chairman, who restated commitment to protecting the interest of workers in the state, said the organised Labour feels the pains of all civil servants..

Ndiomu stated that Labour would no longer accept the 50 per cent salary payment to the state civil servants.

However, Mr Jonathan Obuebite, the state Commissioner for Information, while reacting to the NLC’s position, described it as “uncalled for and a breached of the agreement signed with the state government.

“The NLC should know that the state government has never defaulted in the payment.

“The agreement on 50 per cent salary payment to workers of which I am a signatory was because of the economic situation in the country.

“We agreed on that payment pending when our economic situation improves; that decision is in black and white because the agreement was signed by labour and government representatives.

“The government has never defaulted from the day the agreement was signed.

“Labour has an agreement with the state government and that agreement is binding on both parties till a party default.

“If there is any default in the agreement, it is written that Labour is to communicate officially to government on why they think they are not going to abide by the agreement they reached with us.

“To the best of my knowledge that formal communication has not been done. The government was surprised to hear labour singing a different tune after signing the agreement with the government and benefiting from it and that is where we are,” the Commissioner said.