Taraba State: Government appeals to workers end strike

Governor-Darius-Ishaku: appeals to workers

The Taraba Government on Thursday appealed to striking civil servants to call-off the three-say warning strike and forward names of workers affected by salaries deductions and omissions for prompt action.

Mr Anthony Danburam, the Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, made the appeal at a press briefing in Jalingo.

Organised labour had on Wednesday commenced a three -day warning strike over the issue, including non- payment of salaries to primary school teachers.

The commissioner said that the state government was not happy over the abnormalities in the salaries of workers.

“The variations are not deliberate. Before now, Soft Link System, a company owned by the present deputy governor was handling the payment without any issue.

“But because he is now the deputy governor, it’s not right for his company to still handle staff salary payments and we engaged Starter Point Consulting Company which is now handling the payments.

“The new consultant is still using the data base of Soft Link, pending when the ongoing staff verification in the state would be completed in a matter of months from now.

“However, within the period, there are staff promotions from one grade level to another and some have retired or died and the new consultant does not have these records.

“The Head of Service had written to the organised labour to compile list of workers affected from various Ministries, Department and Agencies and forward same to the desk officer in charge.
“ The desk officer will correct the abnormalities in the payments, but organised labour have not complied with the directive,” he said.

The commissioner said despite the lean resources of the state, Gov. Darius Ishaku has been paying staff salaries and would continue to do so.