NIMC workers threaten shutdown Dec 31 over unpaid arrears, poor salary

Workers of the National Identity Management Commission have
threatened to shut down the outfit if the management failed to
address poor working conditions they were contending with.

The workers are also asking for the payment of outstanding
arrears and implementation of the Para-military Salary structure
after the National Salaries and Wages Commission classified NIMC
under that group of workers.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workers, under the
aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, had
written to the Federal Government on November 8, and given a 21-day
deadline to address the lingering issues.

The letter, which was signed by the Secretary-General of ASCSN,
Mr Isaac Ojemhenke, was copied to the Senate President, Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the
Federation and the Minister of Labour and Employment.

In the letter, the NIMC workers alleged that the state of
enrolment centres across the country was worrisome and needed
“urgent attention”.

Chairman, NIMC branch of ASCSN, Mr Lucky Asekokhai, who spoke
with NAN on the workers’ demands, regretted that NIMC management
had yet to respond to the demands “in spite of the expiration of
the ultimatum”.

He said, “The workers are not happy. A decision will be taken by
the union soon. Workers will not accept to continue working under
deplorable conditions of service.

“We have been on this issue for a long time, but management has
not been sincere with us. We issued an ultimatum that has elapsed.
There is no reason for people that work in a critical agency that
keeps data of the identities of Nigerians to work in a deplorable
condition.

“We heard of a new salary structure and the management confirmed
working on it, but we are yet to see the salary.

“Again, the 28-day relocation allowance given to people on
transfer, or those that are newly employed, has yet to be paid
since 2013.

“After the ultimatum, we were invited by the National Assembly,
the SGF, Police, and Head of the Trade Dispute Department at the
Ministry of Labour and Employment. We were told to give the
government some time. We expected date but they did not give
us.

“We have decided to give the government till December 31, 2019,
for further discussion, but if nothing positive comes up, nobody
should blame us for any action taken. We will not give any further
notice before we shut down the commission.”

Mr Abdulhamid Umar, NIMC’s General Manager, Operations, while
reacting to the threat said that all issues raised by workers were
addressed before the ultimatum elapsed.

“There are issues raised, but 99 per cent of them were outside
the purview of the commission’s management because they were
directed at the government.

“But, because we were delegated by the government to manage the
commission for the public, we cannot run away from the impact of
the issues raised. They were germane and still germane, but no
longer on the front burner.

“On the allowances, the government has directed us to collate
them. If you go to the Accountant General’s Office, you will see
our requisition there. Discussions took place at the highest level.
Those matters have been tabled before government,” he said.

(NAN)