Local Government workers in Gombe State are still awaiting their October salaries.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Sambo Dahiru, a local government worker, expressed the hardship he and his colleagues are enduring due to the unpaid wages.
“We are yet to receive our salary, let alone a reflection of the consequential adjustment to the minimum wage,” Dahiru stated. “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.”
In contrast, state civil service employees received their payments on November 1, adding to the frustration of local government staff. Another employee, Naomi Musa, appealed directly to the governor for intervention: “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.”
In response, Gombe State Commissioner for Finance, Gambo Magaji, assured that the salary issue would be resolved, promising that payments would be made soon. “They (LGA workers) will be paid today (Sunday), in sha Allah,” Magaji stated.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Aish-Bello, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Gombe, said he had no new information on the payment situation for local government workers. “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,” he explained.
The Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, led by Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Jatau, had previously assured both state and local government employees that the new wage adjustments would be included in their pay. Jatau had encouraged civil servants to report to him directly if payment was not made by the end of October.
Attempts to reach Jack Tasha, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, to verify the cause of the delay, have been unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
