N153bn disbursement to states: NLC spoils for war with govs

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Saturday, warned all the state governors owing workers’ salaries and pension to ensure immediate payment of the arrears from the N153 billion received from the Federal Government as part of their Paris Club loan refunds.

The Federal Government had two weeks ago approved the disbursement of N522.74 billion to the 36 states as payment for the excess deductions from the states on the loan.

Last week, 14 states got their accounts credited with N153 billion by the Federal Government, while other states are to receive theirs in due course.

NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, who issued the warning while speaking with Sunday Tribune, stressed that payment of salaries and pension arrears should top the list of agenda of debt to be defrayed by the states owing their workers.

He warned that the NLC would take immediate action and mobilise to any state where the state council needs their assistance to ensure that state government offset both arrears.

Already, the NLC has directed all its state councils, especially where workers are owed salaries and pensions, to note the disbursement and act accordingly.

Ozo-Eson said the congress was monitoring the disbursement to states, adding that labour would not accept any situation where the states got another round of money and failed to pay their workers.

“We are monitoring it and we have asked that our state councils should take note particularly in those states that workers are owed salaries.

“This is part of Federal Government’s disbursement to states to help defray debt, especially in the areas of salaries, pensions and other entitlements being owed the workers. They must therefore, ensure that these arrears be at the top of agenda.”

He pointed out that where any state council needs the help and assistance of the congress, the headquarters would not hesitate to mobilise to such state, warning that such state should be ready to confront the workers.

Ozo-Eson said: “Where state councils require the help of the central labour body, we would do so, and would not hesitate to mobilise to such state to ensure payment as we have been doing in the past.

“Any state that owed workers arrears of salaries, pensions and other entitlements, they should set these as priority and ensure immediate payment from this disbursement,” he said.