Unpaid salaries: I can't sell myself to raise funds – Fayose to workers

Workers in Ekiti state began an indefinite strike over government’s inability to pay salary arrears – Governor Ayodele Fayose said there was no money to pay salaries, and he would have to wait for the workers to return

He revealed that the state only got N751million allocation from the federation account, while workers monthly wage bill was over N2billion 

Governor Ayo Fayose Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has reacted to workers’ decision to embark on an indefinite strike over government’s inability to pay five months’ salary arrears. Premium Times reports that the strike that began on Thursday, May 26, brought Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to a halt as government offices and public schools remained shut. 

The strike followed the expiration of the 48-hour-ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council to Fayose to pay workers’ salary deductions for December 2015. 

The Ekiti state workers also demanded the release of the staff audit and verification conducted in April 2015; disclosure of the monthly internally generated revenue; payment of arrears of salaries, pension and gratuities; payment of September 2014 salary to primary school teachers; and payment of 2014 and 2015 leave bonuses. 

Fayose lists Buhari’s ‘lies’ to Nigerians Reacting to the strike, Fayose said that there was no money to pay salaries, and he would have to wait for the workers to return. He revealed that the state only got N751million allocation from the federation account, while workers monthly wage bill was over N2billion. “Right now, I’m helpless. It is difficult to sell myself, my family or my property. I can only depend on what I get from Abuja.

 I want workers to understand that it is my priority to make them comfortable. “Even before going on their strike, I got to know that many of them no longer come to office while many others were coming late to office. Why I refused to come hard on those involved was that I had no moral justification to do so since I knew we were owing them. “I don’t have powers to go on strike, we shall be waiting till when they come back, but they must realise that strike is not the best option. 

 “Even in Government House, we don’t have money to power generators with diesel, whereas, I cannot sell myself or members of my family to raise funds, things are that difficult,” he said. Meanwhile, Raymond Adesanmi, the NLC Chairman, told The Punch that the workers made thei legitimate demands and tabled them before the government; therefore, so there was no going back. “We are not saying the government should pay all the money at once. What we are asking for is a commitment. There should be a structured plan of how to settle all the arrears. 

When government is ready to dialogue, we will be waiting,” he added. Meanwhile, President Muhammdu Buhari has directed the compulsory automation of payment of workers’ salaries and allowances as a means of reducing the cost of governance. 

According to Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, the president wants everybody to be on the automated payment system, which will lead to improvement in financial control and transparency.