President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, yesterday said it was unacceptable a situation where states either slash or pay half salaries to civil servants, describing the development as worrisome to organised labour.

Wabba stated this during the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) National Strategic Leadership Retreat held at the union’s state secretariat in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The NLC boss’ comments come just days after local council workers in the state threatened to drag Governor Seriake Dickson to anti-graft agencies if he fails within seven days to produce the N1.2 billion bailout he got from the Federal Government for payment of their salaries.

The workers vowed that the governor and his officials would have a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and order related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the expiration of the ultimatum.

Our reporters gathered that while the council workers are owed over 13 months of salaries, civil servants have not been paid for about six months.
Wabba, therefore, lamented the situation where workers have become victims of slight change in the economy, stating that labour remained opposed to any form of salary cut.

“This remains our position that anywhere there is salary cut, NLC has come out clearly to say we will not be part of that. When there is any slight change and challenge in the economy the first point is to reduce workers’ salary. That is unacceptable to us. We have said that clearly,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has begun moves to amend the Immigration Act so as to localise more jobs currently being contracted to foreigners.