NULGE protests delay in payment of salaries in FCT

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NLUGE) yesterday staged a protest over delay in payment of September salary of staff of the six area councils.

The protesters, numbering over 100 gathered in front of the FCDA secretariat main gate, carrying placards with inscriptions like ‘Perm Sec must go,’ ‘LG Autonomy Yes,’ ‘We say no to JAAC meeting,’ ‘Say no to corruption,’ Pay us our salary and among others.

President of NULGE in the FCT, Comrade Abubakar Al-Hassan Yakub, who led the protest, said the union decided to embark on the protest as a result of the delay in payment of September council’s staff salary.

He also frowned at the FCDA for the delay in holding the monthly Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) meeting always presided over by the Permanent secretary, Engineer John Chukwu, saying it was frustrating that councils staff are yet to receive their September salary.

“And we think if we don’t take any action now, we will become like Kogi and Nasarawa states where civil servants are owed up to six to seven months salaries.

“Normally we collect salary between 9th to 15 of the preceding month, while our colleagues in secondary schools and FCDA take theirs between 22 and 25 of every month. So, why are we the ones suffering? We are all in Abuja and we go to the same market and we pay the same house rent,” he added.

The FCT permanent secretary, Engineer John Chukwu, while addressing the protesters, said he would do everything possible within his power to ensure that the area councils get their salaries from Monday next week.

“I have no reason to delay anybody’s salary. What am I going to do with it? We want to find a way, if we do JAAC meeting before the money comes, but there will be risks. If we agree you are going to get a certain amount, when the money comes and it becomes different the next thing they will say is that ‘Perm Sec has eaten our money’,” he said.

City News observed that the chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Micah Jiba, who is the ALGON national chairman, was booed by the protesters when he wanted to address them.