PUBLIC workers residing in rented apartments in Calabar have
now formed the habit of avoiding their landlords following the
irregular payments of salaries by the state government.
They lamented their plight to one of our correspondents on
Tuesday just as the organised labour union formally declared an
indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.
Also, the strike embarked upon by civil servants in Oyo and
Osun states has paralysed governmental activities in the states.
Public teachers shunned schools while public offices including the
government secretariats were closed.
Workers in Cross River said the situation had forced them to beg
owners of private schools to give them time to pay their children’s
school fees.
A worker in one of the ministries, Mr. John Umo, said, “For
those of us leaving in rented apartment, we now run away from
our landlords since our rents are due to avoid public disgrace.
Our colleagues who have managed to own their homes are
lucky.”
Another worker, Mrs. Clara Adah, said, “We now borrow to
survive. We cannot pay school fees of our wards. We now beg
proprietors or proprietress of private school, to allow our children
attend school on credit or pay in installments.
Governor Liyel Imoke had, during the May 1 Workers’ Day
rally, promised that his administration would commence the
payment of the March salaries on or before May 5, and
subsequently defray others before handing over on May 29.
But the labour union said in spite of this assurances, workers’
salaries had not been paid.
In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, workers in the employment
of Osun State Government on Tuesday complied with the strike
order by the labour unions in the state.
One of our correspondents, who visited some government offices
on Tuesday, observed that they were shut and there were no sign
of business in many of them.
The state Government Secretariat at Abere was a ghost of itself
when one of our correspondents visited the place.
Some students of public schools who had gone to schools were
seen returning home as early as around 9.30am.
The situation was the same in Oyo State. However, the state
government has called on its striking civil servants to
demonstrate greater understanding of the situation which has
affected the payment of salaries as and when due and call off
their strike.
The state’s Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, who made the call
while addressing newsmen in his office in Ibadan on Tuesday,
urged the workers to resume work and allow for further
negotiations to be made between labour and government.

[size=18pt]If only they would listen

Enough shuffering and shmilling

Africans making fun of Nigeria

Other continents making fun of Nigeria

Everybody should go on strike for the hike in fuel price which directly affects transport, food, comfort and everything else

We dictated our new leader it's time to dictate increasing minimum wage, less fuel cost, stable electricity

Oil boom only started in 2007 crude used to sell at $25 per barrel and Nigeria did just fine


I call for total strike action until fuel is returned to 65 per litre [/size]

In Oyo State,Senator Abiola Ajimobi has run the economy of the state aground.Oyo State had been thrown into the dip pit of bankruptcy.A brilliant secondary school boy would have managed the state better.

to the guy above me: AJIREBI did beta dan AREGBErascal nau. why re u complaining? dats wat u pple want and u ve gorrit. dont worry, 4yrs go end soon