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Local government workers in Gombe State have yet to receive their October salaries, as confirmed by The PUNCH Online on Sunday.
Confirming this to our correspondent, Sambo Dahiru, a local government worker lamented the hardship many of them are currently facing, worsened by the non-payment of salaries.
Our correspondent reports that their counterparts in the state civil service received their pay on November 1.
Dahiru said, “We are yet to receive our salary, let alone a reflection of the consequential adjustment to the minimum wage. We are suffering; you know how expensive life has become, and it is even harder when money is not forthcoming, let alone having no funds for sustenance.”
Naomi Musa, another local government employee, called on the state governor to intervene: “I don’t know what the issue may be, whether it is due to direct funding from the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria that is causing the delay. I urge the governor to intervene and ensure these challenges are resolved.”
When contacted, Gombe State’s Commissioner for Finance, Gambo Magaji, assured that the issue would be resolved, stating that workers would receive their payments soon.
He said, “They (LGA workers) will be paid today (Sunday), in sha Allah.”
Additionally, Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman, Yusuf Aish-Bello, revealed that he had no update on the payment of local government employees’ salaries. “I have no new information on that; I am en route back to the state from Port Harcourt and will have a one-hour programme at GMC to discuss various issues.”
The Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau, had promised workers in the state and local government sectors that the new wage would be reflected in their pay.
Jatau had urged civil servants to report to him personally if the payment channels failed by the end of October.
Attempts made through the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity (Deputy Governor’s office), Jack Tasha, to confirm the cause of the delay have been unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
