By: Amawu, Cletus-Albert Amawu.
The Cross River State Organised Labour picketing of the Accountant General’s Office in Calabar, has entered its second day. Hence, the Non remittance of deductions from workers’ salaries to Banks and other Finance Houses in the last four months and the owing of two months salaries of workers’ of the College of Health Technology, Calabar.
Speaking to Epistlenews and the Verdict correspondence outside the premises of the Accountant General’s Office, Comrade Joe Idiege, Chairman of Action Committee, informed journalists that,
“We left yesterday with a caveat that by 6am today, we would be returning for picketing should the four months deductions from worker’s salaries are not been remitted, and if, done, we will proceed to the Governor’s Office and appreciate him, having assured us that the Accountant General will do the needful. Having given our words to the Governor, when he called us and we obeyed him yesterday.
“The Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, came in person and addressed us, and we told him, we were going too demobilized at that instance, to hold them in trust.
Unfortunately, their own part of the bargain was not kept and that’s why we are here again to enforce the picketing.
“In 2021, Labour will not entertain any degree of encumbrance or go into slumber and have bashes from our members. We will be here until what we are looking for is achieved,” he said.
When asked if he believes and trust Governor Ayade and promises he has this to say;
“He gave us his words and directed the Accountant General to ‘go and pay now.’ Even when the AG wanted to make excuses to His Excellency.
“With due respect, he is the Chief Executive Officer of the State, and should we have disobeyed him at that instance, it will have been unfair. We kept to our own side and left, yesterday, but as we speak, nothing has been done from government side.
“On Governor Trust, we are not disenchanted but not happy that things are going this way, and we have always held him on trust until now that he is not trustful, he concluded.
Responding, the Cross River State, Accountant General, Comrade Joseph Adie, explained thus: “In the accounting world, it is not one way thing but a process. We are talking about vouchers and if the amount was this and there’s a change; you have to re-prepare it and that’s why.
Secondly, is time and transferring from one bank to the other. It’s cumbersome and takes more than 24hrs and basically these are just few mentioned of many reasons why it wasn’t possible to pay yesterday.
“But today, if we finish on time, the transfer will be completed. Hence, the funds are there and government is ready and willing to pay; In fact, His Excellency has just invited us to meet with him.
“We all know is Labour Right for this demands, but we must know that this funds don’t just come as we think.
Sometimes we struggle to pay salaries and that’s why we find ourselves were we are today.
“Government is not saying, they are not going to pay. Initially the funds were not available and that is why it accumulated. But we are doing everything possible today or tomorrow,” he said.
When asked how long it takes to remit deducted monies; Comrade Adie, said;
“It is not how long, but what comes from the Federation Account to the State which is not even enough to pay salaries. So we begin to look into IGR and sometimes borrowing and if not getting exact amount, we sometimes begin to pay Net and the deductions. It is not the first time, it has accumulated before in the past and we paid. It is my candid appeal to Organised Labour, to show understanding and trust government,” said, the Accountant General.
Both Comrades Ben Ukpepi, Chairman, NLC. Cross River State Council and Monday Onohgbodor, Chairman, TUC, Cross River State Council, jointly addressed the Press to put to end, romours of internal squabble and in-fighting.
