Life has not been easy for workers and primary school teachers in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State as their October and November salaries remain unpaid while their counterparts in other local government areas have continued to get theirs, although in percentage.
The workers said despite several prevails on the Adavi Local Government Administrator, Mr Joseph Omuya Salami, they have only gotten silent treatment, wondering what could have gone wrong.
Investigating the situation especially as it pertains to only one out of the 21 local government areas in the state, we gathered that the unions had served the Administrator an ultimatum for the payment.
However, the ultimatum has expired, and the workers are preparing to hit the street in protest.
“When they were directed to pay October salary, our local government could not meet up, and other local government paid the teachers. I don’t know what happened in Adavi that both local government workers and teachers were not paid.
“We tried to see the DLG and the treasurer, and their complaints were no satisfactory. I had to go to our NUT Secretariat in Lokoja to complain, and was directed to give an ultimatum. That ultimatum has now expired,” Mr Obey who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) explained to our correspondent via a phone conversation.
He said when the DPO intervened, the Administrator only said he was going to look for money to pay October and November salaries.
“He never invited us since all this while to even explain what was happening. It was the DLG and treasurer that spoke with me last Monday after I called them. They said they were still looking for Money to pay us.
The date of the protest may have not been announced, but it is on record that the leadership of the unions had already communicated their proposed action to the Adavi Police Division.
“I told the DPO that we only copied them so as to provide security for the aggrieved workers upon decision to protest,” the NUT Chairman explained.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of the local government workers said; “We all know how the issue of salary gave the Governor a bad image, and he has tried his best to lay the issue to rest. Now, the Administrator has refused to pay our October salary when other local government areas had paid and even preparing November. Even state workers are happy. Why is Adavi different? Is this not sabotaging the efforts of the Governor?
“We don’t want to be seen in the street or putting the name of the Governor out there again in the name of unpaid salary because we can see that he is trying. But nobody is showing concern about our welfare.”
He called on the State Executive Council to intervene in the matter by prevailing on the Administrator to pay their salary.
Every effort to speak with the Council Boss proved abortive, as he was said to be in meetings at the time of calls.
Credit: Ebira Reporters
