Retired Teachers Heave Sigh Of Relief As Eno Approves N1.8bn For Gratuities, Leave Grants
By Edem ITA
The groaning of retired primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom over elongated arrears of unpaid gratuities and leave grants is now over as Governor Umo Eno approved a total of N1.8bn for the settlement of the outstanding entitlements.
In addition, the Governor has also disclosed that plans are underway for the release of an additional 800 million naira for payment of outstanding leave grants to the entire workforce of the state.
Governor Umo Eno made the disclosure while addressing members of the organized labour in the state who stormed the State Government House in Uyo as part of the nation wide protest over the excruciating impact of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.
He expressed appreciation to Labour over the mature manner of handling the protest , stressing that the government, in line with the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, was not against the people expressing their demands within the ambit of the law.
Pastor Eno who lauded the workers for their unalloyed support during his electioneering, pointed out that he was committed to uplifting their welfare and living standards.
“I want to commend in very serious terms the leadership of Labour for not allowing criminals to hijack the protest because anything we destroy that belong to the government belong to all of us.
“This is very peaceful, very commendable, we are in a democracy when people want to express themselves, peaceful protest is allowed, to carry all this placard is allowed but what is not allowed is when it snowballs into criminality.”
He pledged the readiness of his government to initiate people-oriented programmes in tandem with the A.R.I.S.E agenda which was conceived to accord premium to the welfare and betterment of the people in the day to day running of the state.
The governor reiterated that the "federal government has already released some palliatives to states which Akwa Ibom will soon take delivery of, on our part, the state government is constituting a Palliative Committee, with membership drawn from various sectors including the organized labour and government, to work out modalities for distributing palliatives within the coming days."
“What we will do is to immediately set up a palliative committee and we will bring organized labour in , with the government so that we can sit together, know what the Federal government is bringing and what the state will add.
Within the next ten days, this committee will sits. We will come out and announce clearly the things we are doing, the governor said.”
The State Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sunny James, who presented the demands of the workers to Governor Eno, expressed dismay at the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government towards the welfare of the people.
Also speaking, the Chairman Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Dominic Abang, harped on the necessity of functional refineries to the economy and the urgent need for prompt release palliatives to Micro Small, and Medium enterprises to stimulate the economy, salary increments, among others.
The protesting workers displayed various placards with inscriptions such as Reverse Recent Hike in Petrol Price, CNG mass transit buses for workers, Resuscitate Refineries, Increase Worker'a salary and Ensure Prompt Payment of Gratuity to Retirees amongst others
