Delta workers groan under unpaid salaries

• Threaten work-to-rule
• Govt moves to resolve differences

Workers of the Delta State-owned,Transport Company popularly called “Deltaline” on Tuesday, threatened work-to-rule over alleged unpaid salary arrears in the last four months.

The workers, through the state Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Comrade Jerry Okousun, called on the state government to work out immediate plans to pay the arrears. They warned that their grievances might be worsened if urgent steps are not taken to put smiles on their faces.

Speaking to our reporter on the telephone, Comrade Okousun disclosed that the state government did not pay the workers’ arrears in the months of July, August, September and October, 2015, and however appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to wade into the issues.

Expectedly, rumours had it that the management of Delta Transport Services Limited (DTSL), operators of Delta Line had paid arrears of salaries to its workers.

But Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport Matters, Chibuzor Charles Uwajeh, dispelled as untrue.

Also in a swift reaction, the state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vincent Uduaghan, said government is committed to putting smiles on the faces of the workers despite all the challenges currently facing it.

The commissioner emphasized the readiness of the Okowa administration in restoring sanity in the traffic system in the state, and urged Deltans to abide with the rules of traffic in order to achieve the desired goals.

In another development, farmers in the state have been assured of government’s readiness to partner with them in its efforts to make food available to the people of the state and beyond.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Austin Chikeze, told journalists yesterday after his meeting with the executives of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter that government had mapped out variety of lucrative programmes that would be of immense benefit to Deltans, and called on the farmers to conduct themselves as one family to avoid division.