Government claims more than half electricity workers have been paid
The Federal government yesterday denied that only
fifty per cent of electricity workers have being paid the monetisation
benefits which was agreed upon for the suspension of a nationwide
strike by the workers weeks ago.
The Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wyas told NEXT
Wednesday that while the payment has not been completed as claimed by a
senior official of the union over the weekend, more than 80% were paid
as at Tuesday.
“Out of over 44,000 eligible workers, over 36,000
have been verified and paid,” he said in a text message yesterday.
“Outstanding is over 8,000 only,” he added.
The National Union of the Electricity Workers called
off its strike on August 26, 2010 after agreeing with the federal
government that the disputed benefit totalling about N67 billion would
be cleared within two weeks.
As the date elapsed last Sunday, the Secretary of the
electricity workers union’ Joe Ajaeroh said only 50% of the targeted
beneficiaries could be met hinting at the possibility of renewed
industrial action in the sector.
The union acknowledged there was a disparity between
the amount claimed to have been paid by the government, and those
actually paid. It however hoped to harmonise the differences between
Monday and Tuesday, allowing for the two public holidays declared last
week.
But the Minister said the delay in completing the
payment exercise was due to a complex verification of lawful
beneficiaries resulting from poor records. “These outstanding are due
to poor records, lack of proper identification of next of kin for
deceased workers, unavailability of those who have left the service” he
said. The issues are currently being addressed by external auditors, Mr
Wya stated.
The union could not confirm its position to NEXT as at yesterday but
seems to be in agreement with the claim made by the federal government.
The organising secretary of union’s Abuja Zonal office, Temple Iworima
said the payment is going on, and so far, 33,000 workers were paid
while the few leftovers are to be resolved.
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