Asaba- The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has suspended the two months industrial action embarked upon by its members in 21 of the 25 Local Governments in Delta.
Mr David Ofoeyeno, State Chairman, NULGE announced the suspension on Wednesday in Asaba, at the end of an executive meeting of the association, saying workers were expected to resume work on Thursday, July 16.
The workers had embarked on the strike action on May 11 to protest their unpaid salaries.
Ofoeyeno said that the state government had met with NULGE and they had reached some agreements.
He said that the suspension of the strike was a an interim solution to the workers plight, while calling on the state government to as a matter of urgency take over the payment of the primary school teachers’ salaries.
“We have collectively agreed and decided, because of the interest, commitment showed by the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in resolving this matter, to suspend the strike.
“The government has made some money available to the councils to pay the workers at least three months salaries.
“And for a long term solution, the state government must, as a matter of urgency, take over the payment of the primary school teachers’ salaries from the council,” he said.
The chairman said that the money made available for the payment of the workers’ salaries had been released and strategies were in place to ensure that it would not be diverted.
Ofoeyeno said that if the state government failed to take over the payment of the salaries, the workers would, in four months’ time, commence another strike.
He said that the money released for the payment of the workers were partly from the Federal Government intervention funds and the state government.(NAN)