The organised labour in Cross River State has accused the state
government of misappropriating the N19 billion meant for the settlement of
gratuities, salaries and
other labour-related matters in the state.
Giving an update on the utilisation of the bailout and the Paris Fund by
the state government, state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC),
Clarkson Otu, said: “Both the bailout funds they got and the two tranches of
the Paris Club Refund have not been deployed for the purposes they were meant.
“Particularly, the first tranche they got, about N11.3 billion, I can
tell you that they have applied just about N1.1 billion to pay part of 2013
gratuity. “We went on strike when we came out with the implementation of things
we had agreed on and the governor had promised that he was going to use 50 per
cent of it to offset gratuity for 2013 and the following years, but
unfortunately, that was not done and we went on strike.
“As I speak, gratuities for 2013 are still pending. They paid some and
after exhausting the N1.1b billion, they stopped.” He went on: “Then, the
second tranche of the Paris Club Refund came in, about N6 billion. As I speak,
not one kobo has been deployed for any purpose, to my knowledge.
“But when they got that money, they quickly went on air to say they were
going to use it to offset 2014 gratuity. Not one person has been paid. “They
have paid pensions up date, at least for state retirees. For the severance
allowance, he decided to pay the 2014 to last year’s batch, but the previous
batch before that has not been paid.
“My greatest concern is that we, as Labour, have been taken for a ride,
because we have tried to show tremendous understanding. We have tried to give
this government cooperation, but at every point in time we agree on an issue,
they would throw it back at us and refuse to do the simple things we agreed on.
“As a labour leader, everyday, I receive numerous calls, so I am
disturbed.” He advised the government to do those things they had agreed upon,
adding: “We are under tremendous pressure. We would not continue to wait and
wait when nothing is being done. You have gotten money. So, what are you
waiting for?
“We are not saying take this money from allocation or internally
generated revenue; this is money federal government has given it to you as part
of your refunds. Why not deploy it for that purpose?”
“We know the liabilities are huge and the money may not be enough to
defray all of them, but pay to a reasonable extent and we will understand. But
not to pay at all is quite disturbing.”
In a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and the Senior Special Assistant
to the Governor on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, said: “The government inherited
gratuity right from Donald Duke’s time, totaling over N20 billion, and we have
paid up to 2015.”
He insisted: “Nobody is owing local government salary; all those things are
in the past.” On the Paris Club refund and bailout funds, he said: “Before the
bailout funds came, we paid gratuity up to 2013, and even former chairmen and
councillors of local governments have been paid their severance.
“How much was the bailout funds? It was roughly about N12 billion in the
two tranches. Gratuity alone needs over N20 billion.”
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