Abia State’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the state government’s continuous worker verification process, labeling it as an additional burden on employees.
The government, through a circular from the Head of Service, Dr. Ngozi Obioma, mandated all workers in ministries, parastatals, and the 17 council areas to undergo online verification from May 10 to May 31, 2024.
Expressing discontent, the NLC advised workers to refrain from participating in further verification until concerns surrounding the exercise are addressed by both government and labour representatives.
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In a joint statement by NLC chairman, Okoro Ogbonnaya, and Secretary, Emma Alozie, the union questioned the necessity of subjecting workers to another round of verification, especially considering delays in salary disbursement—some employees reportedly waiting up to seven months due to complications from previous verifications.
The NLC accused the government of disregarding workers’ welfare and failing to consult with the union before initiating such a significant process.
While acknowledging the government’s intent to weed out fraudulent practices like ghost workers, the NLC deemed the timing of the latest verification untimely and detrimental to workers, especially amidst the country’s challenging economic climate.
