TheCable

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Cross River state has declared an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.

Ndoma Akpet, chairman of JAC, said the strike, which commenced on Tuesday, became inevitable following the failure of the outgoing administration to honour its earlier promise to pay the arrears.

“In spite of assurances by the government during the May Day celebration that arrears of salaries will be paid before expiration of the present administration, the government has failed [to fulfil] the promise,” he said.

“We, workers, under the employ of the Cross River government can no longer watch as our lives and destinies are being toyed with and destroyed by an insensitive administration.

“Right now our children are out of school due to inability to pay school fees. Also, a good number of us are dying because of inability to settle medical bills while starvation is everywhere.

“We are, therefore, calling on all workers under the employ of the state government to stay at home as from Tuesday May 26, 2015, until you hear from us.”

Meanwhile, Christian Eta, chief press secretary to Liyel Imoke, governor of the state, told NAN of the commitment of the outgoing administration to paying workers’ salaries before leaving office.

“We are surprised that they still embarked on the strike despite the commitment of the government to pay them April and May salaries before May 29,” he said.