The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has lashed out on some state governors who have voiced out their inability to continue to pay workers salaries over financial constraints.
Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, President of TUC, who barred the mind of Labour at the 10th Delegates Conference of the Union in Abuja, said such states defaulting in salary payments would be met with harsh consequences from the workers.
TUC said rather than complain of being cash strapped, the governors should start thinking out of the box to make amends or take the honourable path by resigning their positions.
TUC was obviously reacting to comments credited to Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, who had earlier disclosed to State House correspondents on Wednesday shortly after he met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the state was neck deep in debts, owing to loans it secured from banks to augment workers salaries.
Bello was quoted to have said, “We have laid the cards on the table; we are not hiding anything. We are very transparent as much as we can but the truth of the matter is that I cannot give what we do not have.
“I wish I had; personally if I had, I would have paid (salaries) from my pocket but I cannot.”.
?Comrade Kaigama ?alleged that some governors recently sought for $3.2 billion from the World Bank after recently collecting bailouts from the Federal Government.
He said the congress would not be cowed by anybody no matter how highly placed saying “we are determined to continue to fight for the emancipation of workers and the masses of our great country.”
His words: “It is a major cause for concern that some of our governors recently sought $3.2 billion from the World Bank after recently collecting bailouts from the Federal Government.
“We are surprised at their behaviour especially as they claim to be on the side of the masses and workers.
“Although the law requires that workers be paid as and when due, several state governments owe as much as seven, eight and even nine months salaries of their workers, thus disobeying the law that they swore to obey to the letter.
“It is our candid position that any governor who cannot pay should resign immediately lest we make his state ungovernable for him. Is it not an irony for a governor who spends over N18,000 per month to fend for his dog to claim that he cannot pay same to his worker?
“Governors should realise that governance is about thinking out of the box, and the test of our progress as a country is not whether they add more to their personal abundance but whether they provide effectively for the have-nots in the society.
“The fact of the matter is that most of our governors are wicked to say the least. Otherwise, they will not be behaving in a reckless manner where they refuse to pay salaries whereas their own families are enjoying the commonwealth of the people recklessly in foreign lands”.
He, however, lamented that intrigues in the country have not only run down the economy, but have also run down lives, marriages, education noting that it has also increased the number of prostitutes and miscreants, accentuated corruption and encouraged exploitative tendencies of multinationals and others.
“There is dearth of foreign exchange for companies to import raw materials, whereas our politicians no longer spend our naira. In our quest for change we now have wolves in sheep’s clothing, and motion without movement in our affairs,” he said.
He also expressed hope in the recovery of the nation’s economy despite the enormity of the struggles and challenges that lie ahead.
“Comrades, I see hope through your eyes. I equally see determination and courage, the basic ingredients we need to overcome the enormous struggles that lie ahead. Currently, the economy of the country is in a very bad shape.
“We are in a period of stagnation with its attendant slow economic growth, high unemployment and rising prices. The country’s currency, the Naira is in a free fall.
“There is insecurity posed by Boko Haram insurgents, problem of herdsmen and Niger Delta militants, and a host of other ills bedeviling the country. In spite of all these challenges, however, we cannot afford to give up the struggle.
“Fortunately what I see in your eyes is hope coupled with signals of a brighter future for our unborn generations. We will surely get there,” Comrade Kaigama said.
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