Babessi council workers decry unpaid salaries, poor working conditions
Mayor says plans underway to solve situation
Some workers of the Babessi council in Ngoketunjia division have decried that the council authority is owing them months of unpaid salaries and arrears.
CNA has been informed that the council does not only owe her workers but all the staff have been placed in poor working conditions, no insurance and resulting in ill health and debts.
According to information from the anonymous source, all attempts to pay the money have not been fruitful. Adding that the authorities have threatened all of them not to carry on any strike action.
“The situation of the non-payment of salaries has reduced workers to mendicants and most of us are being chased out by our Landlords and we are unable to put food on the table for their families and pay school fees for the children. The consequences of such an action are immeasurable,” an embittered worker cried out.
The Mayor of Bebessi council, Mbah Joachim however said the council is owing workers just for 5 months and not as much as disclosed.
“We have 5 months of unpaid salaries and we are working hard to reverse the situation. With the current crisis, council income has dwindled, we are putting up projects that will improve a lot,” the Mayor said in a chat with CNA.
But the workers have contested, saying they have not been paid since December 2022.
Mayor Mbah added that the council will pay the salaries as soon as they have income.
“As soon as we have the 2nd quarter of CAC, we will clear the arrears and wipe tears from the eyes of our workers. They are all wonderful people and have been so resilient in the face of this crisis. I continue to thank them for sustaining the council from total collapse”
He also revealed that they are working on huge projects, which will be beneficial to the entire population of Babessi and also free the council from dependency syndrome. Amongst the projects include some in the domain of health, fisheries, and others.
