You are Owing Us, Lecturers, NLC Tell Gov Ishaku

Taraba State chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has debunked claims by Governor Darius Ishaku that he is not owing any group of workers in the state monthly salaries.

 The governor, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, stated recently: "The outgoing administration of Governor Darius Ishaku, of Taraba State is not owing any group of workers in the state monthly salaries and, therefore, will not be leaving behind any burden arising from unpaid emoluments for the in-coming administration."

 But the NLC Chairman in Taraba, Peter Jediel, described the claim as false, stating that local council workers were still cap in hand seeking livelihood due to unpaid salaries.

 Also the lecturers  at the Taraba State University, Jalingo  said they are owed about four months unpaid salary by the Governor Ishaku's administration 

 A top official of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU  said the author of that press release is not fair University Staff in particular and  Tarabans in general.

"As we speak  there are issues of fractional and non-payment of salaries in the University. Specifically, in September 2021 salaries were paid fractionally,; March 2022- 51% of salaries paid, April 2022- 41% of salaries paid, May 2022- 41% of salaries paid, June 2022- 50% of salaries paid and December 2022-66% of salaries paid.

 "It is worrisome to note that from July to October 2022 (four Months), the salaries of our members are still pending. This is  the true picture of things in our dear Taraba State University under the outgoing administration." The  ASUU official said.

The outgoing administration of His Excellency, Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, Executive Governor of Taraba State, is not owing any group of workers in the state monthly salaries and, therefore, will not be leaving behind any burden arising from unpaid emoluments for the in-coming administration.

This clarification became necessary following a press statement issued recently on behalf of the in-coming administration of Lt Col Agbu Kefas, the Governor-elect which contained a promise

to pay salary arrears in its first 100 days.

This veiled accusation is wrong and unnecessary. The Ishaku administration never toyed with the welfare of workers in its eight years of stewardship in the state. It had consistently paid their salaries since it assumed office in 2015, most of the time before the end of every month.

We find this so-called promise to pay outstanding salary arrears made on behalf of the Governor-Elect not only misplaced but also misleading.

It is also surprising coming from an in-coming administration widely known and regarded to be an offspring of the the present government of His Excellency, Arc Darius Ishaku.

We think we needed to set the records straight, hence this rebuttal.

BALA DAN ABU

Special Adviser to the Governor

(Media and Publicity)