CROSS RIVER: Government Clears Backlogs, Promises To Pay Before Month Ends

The Cross River State Government has paid up all outstanding workers’ salaries.

The administration of the immediate past governor, Senator Liyel Imoke owed workers for March and April, but was able to clear all before he left office on May 29.

Following in the same spirit, the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has paid May salary just two days after assuming duty as governor.

He promised that from this month onwards, government will make effort to pay salary on the 25 of every month from the internally generated revenue.

In this regard all revenue generating ministries, departments and agencies are to immediately forward a detailed list of defaulters to the Ministry of Justice for further necessary action, the governor warned

On the continued strike by the state council of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ayade directed the immediate commencement of “meaningful dialogue with the leadership of the Union with a view to amicably resolve the impasse and the strike called off as soon as possible.”

The State Chairman Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr John Ushie, has expressed satisfaction with the payment of salaries and expressed the hope that the governor will keep to his promise.

He decried the non-payment of gratuity to retirees in the state, as he said his office is inundated with complaints from some retirees, especially teachers and demanded the immediate implementation of 22 per cent consolidated weigh-in allowance for the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union as approved by the governor.

They complained about the non-payment of arrears of promotion from 2007 to 2011 to affected members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria and other workers in the state and local government.