By Patrick Obia
Despite the massive outcry that greeted the harassment of aged people sweeping roads in Calabar, the Cross River State capital who were protesting being owed for six months, the government has only paid part of the salaries.
The women earn a measly NGN7,500 per month which meant they earned NGN46,000 (USD109) in six months.
They are ad-hoc staff of the Calabar Urban Development Authority.
But, the State has paid only four out of the six months owed them despite being tear-gassed and beaten by Police officers.
A source said the pay was increased from NGN7,500 to NGN10,000 with the women given NGN40,000 representing four months pay on Wednesday.
The payment was supervised by the Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey and Eno Edem who is the general supervisor.
“They promised to pay the remaining two months which is NGN20,000 and never to owe them again,” the source said.
The women confirmed this to CrossRiverWatch and expressed happiness that this will go a long way to solve their problems.
Despite promising to be pay the balance of two months and never to owe them, a source said some of the women who received aid may be fired for assisting in portraying the government in negative light.