Unpaid Salaries: NULGE strike continues

…as activities paralysed in Kwara LGs

*Be patient, ALGON begs workers

*Blames action on communication gap

Local Government workers in Kwara State under the aegis Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) yesterday was adamant over the on-going strike over unpaid salaries by the Council Chairmen, National Pilot can report.

The strike, which was expected to have been suspended on Tuesday following the N1.2billion intervention fund, shared among 16 Councils and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has continued.

Council workers began the strike last Wednesday.

The NULGE President, Comrade Adamu Umar told National Pilot in Ilorin that the strike could not be suspended because a large part of the outstanding salaries have not been paid.

Our reporters observed yesterday that government activities at 16 council areas have been paralysed following the industrial action.

The council workers failed to suspend the strike after a meeting held on Tuesday

National Pilot observed that council gates were under lock and key and workers deserted secretariats as directed by the union leaders.

Gates of Ilorin West Local Government secretariat located along Lubcon Road in Ilorin and that of Asa in Afon were locked when National Pilot visited.

Our reporter learnt that other councils across the state experienced similar situation as government activities were paralysed.

The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon Tunde Salami confirmed in a telephone chat with National Pilot yesterday that the strike has been taking its toll on the activities of the local government.

“The strike is all over the 16 local government areas of the state. Offices are locked and there is no way we can do anything,” Salami said in a telephone chat.

However, the Chairman of Baruten Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Bio told National Pilot that the strike has never affected government activities in the area because his staffers have been cooperating.

“As I'm talking to you, I'm in the office and I want to tell you that the strike has not affected my local government because we are brothers here and my staffers have been very cooperating. We are working on the payment of May salary and we have reached 95 percent. I'm sure everybody will get his or her alert today,” Bio said in a telephone chat.

However, while speaking after their State Executives meeting on Tuesday, the Union President, who spoke through the State Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi said: "The essence of the state Executives Council meeting today (Tuesday) is to review the situation report on the ground in all the 16LGs and the Local Government Service Commission."

"We got to know that majority of these LGs with the bail-out released to them can only afford to pay net of April salary".

He said "70% of these councils still owe balance of April, May, June and July."

"With the information we have, most of the local governments are still struggling with April salary after being given the bail-out and June allocation."

"We don't know what will happen to July allocation, if we add it and any augmentation from the state government will determine what they will pay.

"But for now the strike action continues pending another SEC meeting on Thursday."

Afolabi reiterated that the union would reach out to the state government on the resolution of each local government areas in the state.

Reacting, the State Chairman of the Association Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Barrister Abdullateef Okandeji blamed the industrial action on what he called communication gap.

He begged the workers to be patient and that outstanding salaries will be off-set in due course.

Okandeji spoke with National Pilot while reacting to the NULGE's position to continue its strike.

He said "What gave rise to the strike was the absence of communication-as to the status of intervention funds that came into the state."

"We have had mutually beneficial relationship and steps have been taken and the money is being disbursed as I'm speaking to you now."

"Even the money that came in from the bailout is not enough for 1month and we are already in arrears of 3months."

“With this disbursement now what we are going to owe the Local Government will be part of April, full May and full June."

#kwara