Promotions arrears: A/Ibom NLC dissociates self from government circular
By; Patrick Titus, Uyo
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State \Council said it has not entered into any deal with the state government to effect promotions of civil servants in the state without corresponding arrears where applicable.
In a statement in Uyo, the NLC State Chairman, Mr. Etim Ukpong expressed displeasure that the state government would unilaterally take decisions on the issue of workers in the state without consulting with Labour to take workers welfare into consideration.
The Union’s action is sequel to recent circular issued by the state government announcing the release of the promotions for civil and public servants in the state between 2011 and 2014, but without approval of such promotion arrears.
It argued that delayed promotions are usually accompanied with arrears dated back to when such promotions were due, as regular promotion is the legitimate right of civil and public servants.
“The Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), Akwa Ibom State Council hereby states categorically that, at no time whatsoever did it enter into any agreement with government nor sign any memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of the state to the effect that promotions of those years should be released to workers without the corresponding arrears.
While the NLC, Akwa Ibom State Council demands that letters of promotion to workers be accompanied with arrears of promotion as is legitimate, the NLC urged workers to disregard any insinuation to the contrary”, it stated in its statement.
The Union however frowned at the rumour making the rounds that it has collaborated with the state government to rob civil and public servants in the state of their legitimate rights as enshrined in the civil/public service rules.
The absence of the long awaited promotion arrears has caused the affected workers in the state to experience hardship as they complained such promotion benefits would have assisted in solving one problem or another.
