“The reduction of salaries of civil servants in Delta State, as same is demonic, unconscionable, anti-people and a calculated attempt to further subject civil servants to dehumanization”, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has told the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
In a press release on Monday made available to The Story, by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Sylvester Ogheneluemu Omonina, Esq., APC frowned at the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), for betraying the trust of workers.
“Some days ago, a purported statement emanating from Nigerian Labour Congress, Delta State Chapter, a body that was supposed to be the mouthpiece of workers in the State, informed Deltans that the government of the State had concluded plans to reduce and/ or revert the salary structure of Civil Servants of levels 7 to 17 to the old minimum wage of N18, 500. 00 (Eighteen Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) as against the present nationally agreed minimum wage of N30, 000. 00 (Thirty Thousand Naira).
“Unfortunately, few members of the State NLC, without comprehensive consultation and for ulterior motives, acquiesced to this plan of the State Government not minding the adverse effect same would have on workers”, he regretted.
According to the APC Chieftain, the NLC chairman may not be in his right frame of mind to handle the issue due to his recent truma in the hands of his abductors recently.
Hear him: “Information available to Delta APC is that prior to the issuance of the purported statement, the State NLC Chairman who was “kidnapped” by unknown persons was yet in a proper state of mind to give a reasonable sense of direction to the labour force.
“That is, he was yet to recover from the ugly incident; when in less than 48 (forty eight) hours, the State Government invited him to a meeting in Government House, Asaba, where he was detailed to inform workers of the Government’s demonic plans and urged him to make sure that the instructions handed down to him was/is carried out to the latter.
“APC Delta State is aware that Delta state got the highest monthly allocation from the federation account between January 2020 to June 2020. Further findings also show that in the South South and South East of Nigeria, Delta State gets the highest internally generated revenue besides other sources of income from the Federal Government!
“Presently, it is only Delta State Government that has conceived and made public the idea of salary reduction of civil servants in the South South despite the fact that the State is more financially viable than other States in the Region.
“We therefore state without any air of equivocation that If some States in Nigeria are towing the line of salary reduction for its civil servants, Delta State should not be among in view of what comes into the State coffers on a monthly basis which is about four times what some other States get.
“The price of goods and services are now beyond the reach of a “common man” because of the new minimum wage of #30,000. It is a fact that whatever goes up does not come down in Delta/Nigeria! Because of the federally approved minimum wage, most workers who are desirous of living better lives took loans from different sources which they are servicing with their salaries. In other words, reduction of their salaries will no doubt put most civil servants in a very precarious situation and this will no doubt lead to a drop in their morale. Therefore, reduction of workers’ salaries particularly at this period of pandemic is satanic and should be rejected by Civil Servants and all persons of goodwill in the State.
“If the State Government feels there is need to shore up the revenue of the State, the Government should look at the direction of reducing the number of its bloated and unproductive SSA’s, EA’s, SA’s, PA’s and other political hangers-on. Painfully, we have it on good authority that as at today, the salaries of political office Holders is yet to be touched and the State Government is not looking towards that direction. What a government!
“There are many arable lands in Aboh, Ase, Aballa, Ikpide-Irri, Araya, Uwheru and other riverine communities in the State that are good for rice production and other agricultural products but unfortunately the State is not looking at areas that will generate funds for the State and improve the standard of living of Deltans. No funding whatsoever is provided for real Farmers. What we hear on daily basis is “audio Farmers and political jobbers” being empowered!
“APC Delta calls on Civil Servants in the State to put the State Government on its toes. They must not allow the government to continue to undermine their well-being”, Imonina, added.
At press time, text message sent to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Micheal Osuoza, was not responded to.
