Minister of Labour and Productivity Chris Ngige, has stated
that the federal government does not have enough fund to meet the demands of
the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Ngige made the claim on Monday during a meeting with the
leadership of the National Assembly to find ways of clearing salary and
promotion arrears of civil servants.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance Mrs.
Kemi Adeosun, Budget Office Director-General Ben Akabueze and Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC) President Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
Ngige told newsmen that they were at the National Assembly
on the invitation of the leadership.
He added that though some progress was made at the meeting,
all sides were to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified
issues which is that “government does not have enough fund for now to tackle
the issues”.
Ngige said: “We are here on the invitation of the National
Assembly, the joint committee on labour and employment and the meeting is
chaired by the Senate President.
“We are here to discuss issues relating to things that are
meant for industrial harmony in the public sector.
“As you are aware, the labour federations have said the
governors have not been treating them well.
“One of the cardinal issues of International Labour
Organisation (ILO) is to give our workers decent jobs and we decided to discuss
with them.
“We looked at the issues of salary arrears, promotion
arrears, death benefits, location expenses and transfer allowances, hotel
allowance, which overtime have accumulated and had run into billions and this
is what is owed to federal public servants and we started the meeting today to
find a solution.”
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
