Plateau State Governor has said its not withholding local government workers salaries as speculated with their recent protest calling for the payment a new minimum wage.
In recent days, Local Government Workers and Primary School Teachers who are said to be demonstrating and demanding for the implementation of the new minimum wage for their members have blocked some major roads causing untold hardship to road users.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication,Dan Manjang on Thursday said the demonstration by the workers is highly misplaced as the Governor has no direct responsibility for implementation of the new minimum wage at the Local Government level.
He however noted that a Technical Committee has been set up, to ascertain the inflow/outflow of all the Local Governments funds and make appropriate recommendations that will accommodate the payment of the new minimum wage to the workers at the third tier of government.
He however appealed to the aggrieved workers not to allow themselves to be used by politicians and other interests to embark on actions that are inimical to the State, but to reconsider their actions and allow the Technical Committee conclude its work for further action.
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“Let it be known that when the Plateau State Government began implementing the new minimum wage, the Governor was keen on ensuring that local government staff and teachers are also carried along hence his encouragement of the negotiation process for its implementation in that tier of government. “
Having noted the delay in concluding negotiations on the implementation of the new minimum wage at the local government level which affected the payment of October and November 2020 salaries, the Governor convened and chaired an emergency intervention meeting of relevant stakeholders on Thursday, 26th November 2020.
The meeting which was attended by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and Principal Officers; Chairmen of the 17 Local Governments; and Members of the Joint Negotiating Council (Union and Government sides inclusive), resolved to set up a Technical Committee to ascertain the inflow/outflow of all the Local Governments and make appropriate recommendations that will accommodate the payment of the new minimum wage to the workers at the third tier of government.
” While everyone (including Governor Lalong) was anxiously waiting for the outcome of this committee’s report, the State Government was inundated with threats of protests, disruptions, campaign of calumny, threats to lives and properties of some senior public servants and even politicization of what is purely a labour matter.
” The desperation has gone to ridiculous levels with some even threatening to disrupt the scheduled bye-election for the Plateau South Senatorial District on Saturday 5th December 2020.
” In the light of the above, Government wishes to appeal to the aggrieved workers to reconsider their actions and allow the Technical Committee conclude its work for further action.
” They should have a rethink and refrain from being used by politicians and other interests to embark of actions that are not only inimical to the State, but also injurious to their cause.
” Let them heed the voice of their leaders who are deeply involved in the negotiations and respect the appeal by the Chairman Joint Public Sector Negotiating Team for Plateau State Comrade James Diwa who issued a Press Statement dated 3rd December 2020 wherein he appealed for appealed for calm and suspect all protests as the Technical Committee is working to achieve its mandate.
The statement also explained clearly that salaries, emoluments and allowances of Local Government staff and teachers are entirely the responsibility of the Local Government Councils that belong to a different tier of government.
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He said ” This has been reinforced with the implementation of autonomy to the Local Governments in the State in line with recent national developments. “
“Therefore the Governor has no direct responsibility for implementation of the new minimum wage at the Local Government level nor does he possess any fiat to “direct” such payment. “
“Chanting solidarity songs by the affected staff to the effect that “Lalong ka bamu hakin mu” translated (Lalong give us our wages) is highly misplaced and to the say the least mischievous.”
” Secondly, Governor Simon Bako Lalong has consistently remained a labour-friendly Governor comparable to non in the recent history of Plateau State since assuming office in 2015.”
” He did not only pay 8 months’ salary arrears of State workers he inherited from the administration of Governor Jonah Jang, but also paid all withheld allowances under the “No-Work-No-Pay” rule. “
While the Government appeals to the protesting workers to show restraint, understanding and embrace peaceful means of ventilating their grievances, it wishes to assure law abiding citizens that it will not fold its arms and see the State being grounded by any individual or group under whatsoever guise.
In as much as Government has the duty to listen and look into the plight of its workers, including local government staff (which it has continued to do), it also has the responsibility to protect other citizens who desire to engage in lawful businesses to earn their living.
After all, government does not have the capacity to employ all citizens but relies on the private and informal sector to do that. Stopping people from accessing their destinations is therefore an unnecessary affront that should be avoided at all costs.
