Ministry of Niger Delta workers cry out over 20-month owed salaries
Some workers with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs have cried out over 20 months of unpaid salaries.
The workers attached to the Calabar office of the Niger Delta Ministry said they were owed monthly remuneration at intervals running up to almost two years.
One of the employees who spoke under anonymous conditions, told Daily Report Nigeria that the situation has brought unfathomable hardship on them.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
He explained that he and his colleagues have been exposed to hunger, depression and mental instability over the situation.
The workers made up of two cleaners and two security guards, lamented that several attempts to get the attention of the ministry to their plight have proven futile.
READ ALSO: Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Opens Vocational Centre
In one of many letters addressed to the ministry dated July 22, 2022, the workers had said;
“We wish to bring to your notice the untold hardship suffered by us and our families due to non-payment of 16 months owed us by your Ministry.
“The last payment (February and March, 2021) was made on April, 2022 from then up till the time of our writing this letter we are yet to receive a kobo despite series of promises made to us.
“We therefore please call on you to use your good offices and ordered for the release of funds to settle this indebtedness as we and our children have become a mere walking corps due to starvation.”
The letter also listed the names of the affected employees to include Isek Henry (supervisor security guard), Jepthan Henshaw (security guard), Monday Enya (head cleaner) and Grace Inyang (cleaner).
The workers had put up a follow up letter on December 7, 2022, demanding the payment of their salaries to the tune of two million, one hundred and twenty five thousand naira (N2,125,000.00).
When contacted, the administrative head of the ministry in Calabar, Mr. Emmanuel Etim said the plight of the workers had long been deliberated, adding that funds for their payment had already been approved.
Mr. Etim, who lamed the delay in the disbursement of their arrears on the recent cash crunch in the country, assured that all necessary steps have been put in place to ensure that the lamenting workers were paid in no distant time.
Speaking to our correspondent in a telephone conversation, Etim said;
“The cause of this is tied to the minimum wage bill which struck off domestic staff salaries from the wage bill of the government. Since then, the ministry had been paying their wages from maintenance fees, which may not be always enough.
“Their plight has already been registered long ago. Approval for the payment of their 18-month arrears had been given since December. I assure you that they will be paid their wages as soon as possible.”
