Ekiti state workers yesterday wore gloomy faces as they gathered at the State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, lamenting the non-payment of last month’s salary.
The workers, who expected their salary on April 27, had their hopes dashed.
Workers at many government offices became sad yesterday on learning they would have to wait a little longer for their salary.
The situation was aggravated by the expiration of a six-month moratorium secured from commercial banks by Governor Ayo Fayose.
Its expiration means that the governor can no longer raise loans from banks to pay workers.
Yesterday, workers were discussing in hushed tones.
A source claimed that a pay cut is being considered by government to find a way out of the problem.
The source said: “One of the options being weighed by the government is reduction of salary because government is not willing to retrench them.
“A pay cut of about 20 or 30 per cent is being considered but nothing has been finalised. I think a pay cut is better than retrenching or downsizing.”
A worker said: “We are now in trouble over non-payment of our salary because we don’t know how we are going to survive. The salary delay may not be the fault of the governor but we are in a dire situation.
“Many of us have incurred debts that our salary may not be enough to offset. Some of us find it difficult to pay our children’s school fees but we pray that one way or the other, the government finds a solution.”
Another civil servant said: “These are hard times for us and surviving has been difficult. No salary, the outstanding September salary is there, no leave bonus.
“It will get to a level that some of us won’t come to office because of lack of fare and food I obtained on credit will soon finish. It is unfortunate.”
The effect of the non-payment of salary is affecting sales. Market women and shop owners are complaining of low sales, which they attributed to the economic situation.
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Toyin Ojo allayed workers’ fear, saying they would not be denied their benefits.
He said government was discusing with labour unions to find a way of managing the situation.
Ojo said: “We are laying our cards on the table. We want our stakeholders to give us suggestions. It is after we have agreed on modalities that we will start paying.
“We are discussing with labour leaders, because it is a matter of concern to Governor Fayose, who had vowed not to owe workers .
“It is our wish to pay them as and when due and that was why we are seeking suggestions from them. As we are doing this, we were showing them evidence of what we have been getting from the Federation Account and how we have been spending it.”
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