The Cross River State chapter
of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has solicited the understanding of workers in the State over deductions in their July 2015 salary.
The State Chairman of NLC, Mr. John Ushie, stated this in Calabar while speaking to journalists.
Ushie was reacting to complaints by some workers in the state over the deductions without their knowledge and authorisation and maintained that the decision to deduct the salary of workers by the congress was taken last August by the executive committee of NLC for the building of a Labour House.
“Sometimes in August last year, the state EXCO decided that the state NLC should have a labour house to be built by workers through deductions from workers’ salaries. The workers are right because members of the state working committee who are chairmen of affiliate unions supposed to have gone back to their respective unions to avail them of EXCO’s decision, but that was not done, so what has happened is a question of lack of communication.”
He, however, formally apologized to workers for the lack of communication.
He explained that the deductions would last for three months and were in three categories: workers from grade level 1-6 N1000; 7-10 N2000; and 12- above N3000, adding that their decision to build a Labour House was to ensure a virile labour union in the state and to have a center where workers could meet without fear of molestation.
“About 80 per cent of our affiliate unions do not have permanent secretariats and we think it is important that if this house is built, it will serve as our solidarity centre, anytime we have issues that require all workers to gather, we will all gather there and discuss our affairs, I therefore, appeal for the cooperation of workers and assure that sincerely whatever we are going to do is not going to be hidden,” Ushie said.
According to him, the project has already begun along Mariam road having secured Land and certificate of occupancy from the immediate past administration.
He said that the construction of the labour house would be completed before the end of the year.
“I assure you that, we will do everything possible to finish the house before the end of this year because even our rent here is expiring this year and we do not intend to pay for more years,” he stated.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
