The indefinite strike action declared by the civil servants in Plateau State has been suspended as workers of both the State and Local Governments have been directed to resume work on next Monday.
Recall that both the state and local government workers in the state embarked on strike two months ago over non
payment of their five-month salaries before the present administration came on board.
In a statement issued by the Joint National Negotiating Council and signed by its chairmen, Comrade Titus L. Malau and Secretary Timothy S. Gopep, respectively, the union posited that the government has paid the balance of salaries for the month of February 2023 and also issued a circular directing all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement all promotions with immediate effect.
It pointed out that the Government has concluded working on a consolidated Salary table for State civil servants, and both parties have signed the same.
The statement further depicted that the Government has prepared a salary spreadsheet for the month of March 2023, capturing arrears of Annual Increments for January and February 2022 and that the same has been presented to the Unions.
It added that in the meeting between the JNC and the Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas, the government agreed that it would pay arrears of salaries to Local Government Employees as soon as it received its subvention for the month of May 2023.
“The government, upon release of promotions and Annual Increments, shall effect payments thereof commencing July 20, 2023.
Payments of salaries shall be centralized in the spirit of brotherhood to assist the weaker Local Governments.
“The government shall determine and pay the outstanding 25% COVID-19 allowances applicable to health workers.
The Joint Personnel Audit of the Local Government shall be conducted within six weeks, commencing one week after resumption of work”.
What about the newly employed staffs that are on suspension, are they resuming too?