By Omos Oyinbode, Asaba
An indefinite strike action is imminent across the 25 local government councils of Delta State unless the backlog of salaries owed local government employees are paid before May 11, 2015.
Issuing the warning in Asaba, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), David Ofoeyeno who also doubles as Delta State NLC Chairman, said 21 council areas were owing workers almost five months of unpaid salaries.
Ofoeyeno said the development was bringing untold hardship to council employees, insisting that if the the backlog of salaries were not paid before May 11, the 25 council secretariats would be shut.“The SEC of NULGE met and decided to call for an indefinite strike if the salaries are not paid before May 11, and the strike will not be called-off until the salaries are paid. The councils shall be under lock and keys.
“Our people are being owed over four months salaries in some councils and this has brought untold hardship to our members,” he said.
Although the state chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Malik Ikpokpo could not be reached, sources close to council chairmen in the state expressed support for the impending strike.
According to the source, “Let them go on strike because it is unfair for somebody to be coming to work and at the end of the month, there is no salary. Nobody can actually tell where allocations to the councils are going to because they are unable to pay even salaries not to talk of executing capital projects.”
