Tension is mounting in Anambra state as the organised Labour is poised to embark on industrial action, following arbitrary deductions of workers’ salaries by the government without any explanations.
The organised Labour, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, will meet Thursday in Awka to strategise on further action.
The state civil servants continue to groan at the end of every month as the majority of them receive far less than their monthly payments.
According to some of the workers who spoke with Newspot on Wednesday, as much as N41,000 to N48,000 are deducted from their salaries each month, while some others have between N25,000 and N40,000 deducted.
They said it all started when Governor Chukwuma Soludo threatened the workers because of the Monday sit-at-home, where some workers were suspended for up to six months without pay.
The workers are expressing growing frustration over what they described as persistent salary slashes despite strict compliance with attendance, especially on Mondays.
“Workers report to work regularly, especially on Mondays when attendance monitoring is said to be stricter, yet our salaries continue to be reduced monthly without clear explanations.
“The development has triggered widespread dissatisfaction among workers already battling Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, rising transportation costs, inflation, and increasing household expenses.
“The salary cannot sustain us again. Imagine a family man or woman going home with N22,000 in a month under the present harsh conditions.
“The best option is to challenge the government in the state. Why the inhuman treatment of workers?
“Transportation alone takes a huge part of our salary. Feeding, school fees, and rent are becoming impossible,” a worker lamented.
Meanwhile, some of the Labour leaders who spoke, but pleaded anonymity, said they will not let the cat out of the bag until after their meeting on Thursday.
“The worst part of it is that we met and discussed with the governor on May Day, yet nothing has happened. The workers continue to lament. What form of punishment is that? the leaders asked.
“I think we have become so docile because of overfamiliarity, but it cannot continue this way. The world will hear us after the meeting.
