The Abia State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has criticized Governor Alex Otti over the ongoing verification exercise, which has allegedly left many workers unpaid for over seven months.
According to The PUNCH, in a circular dated May 11, signed by Chairman Okoro Ogbonnaya and Secretary Emma Alozie, the congress directed workers not to participate in the verification until issues surrounding the exercise are resolved.
“That it is a slight for the government to again organise such a sensitive programme for our members without recourse to Labour which is the umbrella body for the workers.
“That labour views this exercise as retrogressive to the earlier vision of the governor to fish out ghost workers from the system.
“That another verification exercise a few months after the first one is anti-workers, considering the economic hardship the workers are going through with their meagre salaries,” the circular added.
The NLC questioned the rationale behind subjecting workers to another verification when many have not received their salaries for over seven months due to previous exercise hiccups.
The congress described the move as insensitive and a total disregard for labour in the state.
The circular stated that the government’s decision to conduct the exercise without consulting the NLC leadership is a slight to the workers and views the exercise as retrogressive to the governor’s earlier vision of fishing out ghost workers.
The NLC condemned the exercise as anti-workers, considering the economic hardship workers face with their meagre salaries.
The verification exercise, directed by the Office of the Head of Service, was scheduled to take place from May 10 to May 31, 2024, but the NLC has urged workers not to participate until their concerns are addressed.
