By Correspondent in Minna
The Niger state Commissioner Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has urged the state force for understanding in the prevalent financial crisis in the state by accepting 70 per cent salary across the board.
He gave the advice while briefing journalists in Minna over the weekend, on efforts to manage the impending crisis, a development he noted compelled the state government to forgo other financial obligations to parastatals, including overheads to MDAs.
According to him, percentage salary payment will not last for too long, assuring that the state government is opening up more revenue generation channels, including the establishment of livestock and milk production for more money to the state coffers.
The commissioner cited numerous challenges bedeviling the state to include insecurity, infrastructure, workers’ salaries and payment of pensions.
He said while the state spent almost N2 billion monthly on payment of salaries, pension and related concerns gulp N500 million, yet the monthly allocation from FAAC keeps reducing by the months due to recession.
Niger state government, according to Idris spends more on a monthly basis even when allocation from FAAC is reducing.
“Today November, 27th, we are in a period of crisis, but it is not peculiar to our state alone, we are trying our best as a government to eliminate these crisis especially that of security challenges,”he said.
However,the organized labour in the state who insists on 100 percent pay, saying it is suspicious of the state government’s claims of being financially overburdened.
The labour noted that the state government could not account for all the monies from FAAC, deductions from workers’ salaries and as well, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The organized labour,in a statement entitled, ‘Resumption of Suspended Indefinite Strike Action’, signed by Comrade Yakubu Garba and Comrade Tanimu Yunusa, state Chairmen NLC and TUC respectively said workers would from tomorrow (Tuesday) resume strike.
This,it said would be possible, if the state government fail to pay 100 percent of salaries.
The NLC also expressed disgust over the state government’s claim of ascertaining the number of workers on its payroll aimed at eliminating ghost workers, adding that this could not explain the total amount the entire 30 percent deductions from workers’ salaries is.
“Not-doubting the fact that the state is facing financial difficulties due to recession which is more of global phenomenon, workers in Niger state are skeptical and wondered why only their salaries are to be tampered with while other segments are left with bogus sums allocated to it.
“The NLC in its 4 points condition for peaceful resolution of the stand-off wants the discussion on payment of outstanding October, 2020 salaries of local government council workers to have been concluded on or before tomorrow (Tuesday), 1st of December, 2020
“The organized labour is seriously dismayed over the state government’s refusal to affect the refund of the 30% balance to affected civil servants, five months after, but had instead notified civil servants of its intents to once again pay November 2020 salary on percentage basis”.
“The organized labour wants the stat government to refund the slashed June salaries to desirable civil servants latest by tomorrow, 1st of December, 2020 failure of which they will have no option that to down tools, the statement warns.
“Failure of the state government to address issues; 1, 2 and 3 above, the organized labour will be left with no other option than to resume the earlier suspended indefinite strike action effective from 12 midnight of Tuesday November 1st, 2020,” it added.
