Against Governor Emmanuel’s claim, ‘we are owed four years leave grant’ – NULGE

Comrade Anestina Iweh, President of NULGE, Akwa Ibom State.

By Abasifreke Effiong

The National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Akwa Ibom State, says local government employees across the State are owed leave grant for four years.

This claim is in conflict with the announcement made by the Governor last weekend that gratuities and leave allowances of local government workers have been paid up-to-date.

Governor Udom Emmanuel had on Friday in a performance update programme tagged “The Governor speaks” said that he has paid leave grants of local government staff up-to-date.

The programme which was streamed live on the official Facebook page of the State Government, while speaking on local government administration Governor Emmanuel said, “today we have cleared all the gratuities up to date, we have cleared all leave allowances up to date.”

The Governor’s claimed can be accessed on the official Facebook page of the State.

At a press conference addressed on Wednesday in Uyo, NULGE said local government workers across the State are being owed leave grant of 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021. In addition to this, staff of nine local government councils are being owed leave grant of 2018.

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The State President of NULGE, Comrade Anestina Iweh, said members of the union were agitated by the statement by the governor hence the need to address members and the public.

“As at the time of this press briefing, the Akwa Ibom State Government has not cleared the arrears of leave allowances and arrears of salaries of Local Government Staff in the State, staff in the employ of Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service are owed 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021 leave grant allowances.

“… 2018 leave grant was paid to staff of 22 Local Government Councils while the staff of 9 LGCs of Onna, Eket, Ini, Abak, Etinan, Nsit Ubium, Mbo, and Okobo have not been paid.”

The Union also said that some local government workers are being owed salary arrears of 2014 and promotion arrears.

“That salary arrears are still owed staff of 9 Local Government Councils since 2014. The 9 Local Government Councils involved and number of months of salary arrears owed are; Ikot Ekpene -4½ months, Abak -2½ months, Ikono – 2 months, Ika 1½ months, Urueofiong/Oruko – 1 month, Ibesikpo Asutan- 1 month, Ini -1month, Onna – 1month and Uyo Local Government Council 1 month.

“The Union is also compelled to draw the attention of His Excellency and relevant authorities to the disparity in the payment of promotion arrears to the staff of the Local Government Service in the State as against what is obtainable in the State Civil Service. It is a verifiable fact that the last time staff of the Local Government Service were paid promotion arrears was in 2014, whereas, their State Counterparts have enjoyed this allowance up to 2020.”

The Union however lauded Governor Emmanuel for augmenting the allocation sent to local government councils in the last two months making it possible for the councils to meet their salary obligation to staff.

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NULGE called on the agencies of the State government in charge of the payment of their allowance to effect the payment without further delay.

“The Union appreciates His Excellency for his magnanimous intervention in augmenting the federal allocation sent to the Local Government in the State for the past 2 months, we also plead with the relevant authorities that oversee the disbursement of funds accruable to the 31 Local Government Areas in the state from the Joint Account Committee to make plans to clear and offset the backlog of leave allowances to the Local Government Workers as it has not been cleared as claimed by His Excellency, the Governor.

“The union has not lost faith in His Excellency’s promises in 2018 at Ibom Hall Grounds when members of our great union and indeed the entire staff of the Unified Local Government in the state went on a solidarity March to support his 2nd term bid. And therefore appeal to the relevant quarters that is keeping the money so release by His Excellency, to clear the backlog of leave allowances without further delay.”