Nigeria: Sokoto Health Workers to Strike Over Deductions
Sokoto — The Medical and Health Workers'
Union of Nigeria, Sokoto State council, yesterday gave the state
government a seven day ultimatum to return the money deducted from
salaries of its members by an audit committee set up by the state's Head
of Service or risk strike. Addressing newsmen, secretary of the union,
Mohammad Sani Mohammed said deductions were made from their salaries by
the committee illegally.
He lamented that those who were receiving N43,760 monthly were paid N1,000 only as March salary.
"Over 95 per cent was deducted from salaries of our members, numbering 3,680 by the Head of Service committee on deduction. The deduction is abnormal because no matter the type of loan you collected from the state, it should not warrant a 95 per cent deduction from your salary," he said.
One of the affected workers, Abubakar Umar Wamakko said his monthly salary is N 43,760, but that in March, N1,000 was written on his print-out as his salary for the month.
"I collected housing loan in 2003 during the Bafarawa administration, but what is being deducted from my salary is N7,000, and it is expected to be paid back in 10 years. So, I was surprised that this month, N42,760 was deducted from my salary," he said.
When contacted, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali said he was aware of the complaints, but that the deductions were not made by his staff audit committee.
"There is no way over 95 per cent of a worker's salary will be deducted. The deduction was either a mischief or genuine mistake from the state's Ministry of Finance," he said.
He lamented that those who were receiving N43,760 monthly were paid N1,000 only as March salary.
"Over 95 per cent was deducted from salaries of our members, numbering 3,680 by the Head of Service committee on deduction. The deduction is abnormal because no matter the type of loan you collected from the state, it should not warrant a 95 per cent deduction from your salary," he said.
One of the affected workers, Abubakar Umar Wamakko said his monthly salary is N 43,760, but that in March, N1,000 was written on his print-out as his salary for the month.
"I collected housing loan in 2003 during the Bafarawa administration, but what is being deducted from my salary is N7,000, and it is expected to be paid back in 10 years. So, I was surprised that this month, N42,760 was deducted from my salary," he said.
When contacted, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali said he was aware of the complaints, but that the deductions were not made by his staff audit committee.
"There is no way over 95 per cent of a worker's salary will be deducted. The deduction was either a mischief or genuine mistake from the state's Ministry of Finance," he said.
