Govt workers in Nasarawa protest salary deductions, lack of PPE

Workers, including health personnel, have embarked on a one week strike action in Nasarawa State following the deduction in their salary.

An official of one of the unions under the umbrella of Organised Labour in Karu Local Government and Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akwe Baba Omadefu, spoke on behalf of other union executives that: “We are praying for the full payment of our salaries without the 25% deductions for staff of the 13 local governments.

“We are also demanding for free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and not those they are selling to us.

“That is why we have barricaded the entrance of Karu Local Government Secretariat,” said the NUT chairman.

When contacted, Chairman of Karu Local Government, Mr. Samuel Gajere Akala, said: “They took the laws into their own hands.”

On his part, the state Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana, said: “We do not even know their grievances, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) that is supposed to be the umbrella body of local government workers did not approve the strike.

“The government of Nasarawa still appeals to them to come forward with their grievances they have against their local government councils.”