The gesture of governor Ben Ayade of Cross River state to pay May salaries on the first day of the month doesn’t go down well with workers in the state.
Ayade has instituted the pattern of payment for May salaries for the last three years of his tenure. While workers in many states such as Kogi are complaining about being owed salaries for several months, Ayade has also managed to maintain steady and early payment of public staff.
But speaking to journalists, Clarkson Otu, state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), claimed workers and the leadership of labour were unhappy with the governor’s move.
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“As labour leaders, we do not support early salaries payment. We have told the governor that it is not proper. April salary was paid only last week and on May 1st, he pays May salary,” he said.
“We are surprised he still paid early this month in spite of our protest. We will continue to engage him on that.”
Ben Ukpepi, chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), also said labour would engage with the governor with a view to putting an end to early payments of salaries in the state.