Mr Leonard Nkah, the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ebonyi State chapter, has commended Governor Dave Umahi for approving five per cent pay rise for workers.
He said that by the action, Umahi had proved to be a listening governor.
When Umahi addressed the people on Saturday at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, he announced five per cent pay rise in workers’ salaries.
Nkah also said that a dedicated account would be opened where money would be paid into every month for the liquidation of over N5 billion arrears of pensions and gratuity.
Nkah said in Abakaliki on Sunday that the governor’s action was commendable.
“Governor Umahi has proved to be a listening governor as the labour movement has been agitating for the pay rise since the current salary template was released and implemented.”
The state NULGE president expressed optimism that “ as a listening governor, Umahi would continue to adjust workers’ salaries upwards periodically.”
Nkah also appealed to the governor to direct the relevant authorities to comply with the governor’s directive by paying local government workers by the 15th of every month.
Umahi directed that civil servants should be paid by the 15th of every month.
In line with the directive, workers’ in the state receive their monthly salary by the 15th of every month except local government workers.
Nkah complained that local government workers receive their salary at the end of the month or even in some cases in the first or second week of the next month.
“Primary and junior secondary school teachers who are paid from local government funds are paid on the 15th of every month since the governor gave the directive,” Nkah noted.
He, however, commended the governor for his infrastructural development.
“His infrastructural development is visible in Abakaliki, the state capital, across the 13 local government areas.
“His street lightening programme has reduced crime and increased business hours across major towns in the state.
“I appeal to the people of the state to promptly pay their taxes to enable the government sustain its development programmes,” Nkah pleaded.
