We Will Shut Down Cross River If We Don’t Get Our Salaries – NLC Dares Ayade (VIDEO)

By Archibong Jeremiah

The Nigeria Labor Congress Cross River State Chapter has threatened to shut down the State if Governor Ayade does not pay workers in all categories across the state their entitlements within 21 days.

The ultimatum was handed down Tuesday morning during a solidarity rally round the streets of Calabar, the State capital by members of the union led by the State Chairman, Comrade John Ushie.

While addressing members of the press he said, “We had issued a 21 days ultimatum then to Cross River State Government, we did this about two weeks ago and by next week there about it will elapse, we are going to issue another 14 days and another 7 days and if no response, we are going to mobilize workers and close down this State, that’s exactly what we are going to do”.

According to him, the issues that necessitated the rally include: “Non Payment of gratuity and areas of pension since 2012, no promotion from 2013 to 2016, the Governor of Cross River State has given verbal approval to that and on May 1st we had written formally to him conveying that to him so that he can give formal approval, nothing has been done”.

Continuing Comrade John said, “Last year October 2015 we had an action, an MoU between Government and Labor, the issue also was the non implementation of gratuity which they promised they were going to commence payment in November and they didn’t. Also the issue of non-payment of complete salary from June, July and August, according to the labor act and labor law when any deduction is made within 72 hours it should be remitted to the appropriate quarters.

“The Cross River State Government had deducted money from workers in June, July and August 2015 and has not remitted to the Nigeria Labor Congress, they are the legitimate owner of that money because our members donated that money for the building of a labor house and that money is still with the Government. We have asked Government to release it; the Governor promised to release the money since January and has not released it. The issue of appointment of Permanent Secretary and money due for Permanent Secretary appointed since from 2014”.

He enjoined his members to remain calm vowing that his leadership will not fail. The NLC members were seen bearing placards with various inscriptions showing their grievances.