The organised labour in Kogi has rejected the state government’s offer of 50 percent salaries to civil servants in the state.

According to Punch, the labour union said its rejection of half salaries proposed by the state followed a meeting by the union and the government, which ended in a deadlock.

In the bulletin issued at the end of the joint meeting of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and the Public Sector Joint Negotiation Council, the union stated that it was surprised that after collection of bailout fund, first and second tranches, from the London Paris Club refund and the  monthly allocations, the government was still offering half salaries.

The bulletin added that any payment short of 100 per cent shall be regarded as a sallah gift to workers.

The Unions therefore advised the state government to jealously guide the money at her disposal and keep it in safe custody.

Also, the Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has expressed displeasure with the payment of 50 per cent salary to its members and therefore rejected it.

NMA, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Godwin Tijani, and made available to journalists on Thursday, hinted that the association was not invited to the meeting held between the state government and labour leaders where it was agreed that 50 per cent would be paid to workers.

He said, “We only saw the news in the media this morning but we denied it as untrue, but now many of our members have gotten alert confirming the payment of 50 per cent of their salaries. Kogi doctors are not happy with that decision.

“As a noble and an understanding association, we expected the government to notify us of this shortfall and not be taken by surprise. I learnt those working in tertiary institutions are being paid full salary while those with Ministry and Hospital Management Board will get half salary. NMA expresses displeasure with that level of discrimination.”

Tijani however appealed to doctors in the state to remain calm and go about their normal activities as efforts were already in place to correct the defects noted in their salaries.

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram