KPOF KPOF BETTER THAN BREAD, NLC ACCEPTS HALF SALARY.

It could be vividly recalled that Civil servants in Bayelsa state are yet to be paid five months salaries owed to them by the state government.

This has resulted to a lot of hardship and suffering, as there are now several cases of food pots getting missing, thieves and starvation cases.

The Nigeria labour congress, Bayelsa chapter in it's bid to put an end to workers suffering, mounted pressure on the government by commencing an industrial action, on Thursday 19th may 2016, inorder to compel the government to clear the backlog of salaries owed them.

Following the industrial action, Governor Seriake Dickson had on Sunday ordered the striking workers to resume work on Monday or be sacked.

Despite the threat, The Nigeria Labour Congress, Bayelsa chapter, refuted his statement, and said it would continue its ongoing strike over non payment of salary since January 2016, pending when the government is ready for negotiations.

Mr. Dickson, who told them that the state had no funds due to dwindling revenue from the federation account, noted that he would invoke the “no work no pay rule.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that a meeting was held on Monday 23 2016, between labour leaders, the trade union and the state government, which has led to Labour calling off the industrial action embarked upon.

It was gathered that labour accepted 50% salary in their agreement signed with the Government.

Below is their Press statement:

A RESOLUTION REACHED BETWEEN THE BAYELSA STATE GOVERNEMNT AND THE JOINT COUNCIL OF THE NLC AND TUC, AT THE END OF  A MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, THE 23RD OF MAY, 2016, IN YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE.

Following an extensive meeting and deliberation between the government of Bayelsa State and the Leadership of the Joint Council of the NLC and TUC, in consideration of the issues presented, the following resolutions were reached:

1. That, Labour has accepted the position of the state government to pay 50% of monthly salaries to workers effective from February 2016 and expects the Government to effect full payment of workers’ salaries as soon as the allocation from the federal account accruing to the state improves. Labour equally states clearly that the 50% of salaries payable to workers is not a downward review of workers’ salaries. That is to say, that the outstanding 50% shall be paid as soon as the federal allocation to the state improves to complete the monthly salaries of workers.

2. That in line with the ongoing payment of January 2016 salaries to workers, government should facilitate the process of payment of salaries to the outstanding MDAs and Parastatals, including pensioners without further delays.

3.That a monthly meeting should be scheduled between labour and Government, in order to have a joint review of the economic recovery of the state.

4. Inveiw of the state government’s policy on the payment of primary school teachers, labour should commence the process of negotiating with the Government on the way forward.

5. That the Bayelsa State Government should negotiate with banks to suspend deductions arising from loans until the economy of the state improves or otherwise direct payment should be made to workers.

6. No disciplinary action shall be taken against any public servant arising from his or her role(s) either by omission or commission geared towards the prosecution of the suspended industrial action by organized labour.

7. That labour suspends the strike action in the light of strong appeals and interventions from the state government and other well meaning Bayelsans and in accordance with the tenets of Trade Union Negotiations, as well as to pave the way for further negotiations between the state government and organized labour.

8. That organized labour reserves the right to resume strike without prior notice to the State Government, if it fails or renege in any of the terms of this agreement.

Signed:
                                                                   
Dr. Peter F. Singabele, mni.
(Head of Service, Bayelsa State)

Comr. John Bipre   Ndiomu.
(NLC Chairman)
                                                                      
Comr. Tari Dounana
(TUC Chairman)

Hon. Obuebiete Jonathan.
(Hon. Commissioner, Information & Orientation)