Delta Line Workers Under Delta Govt Payroll Shut Down Asaba Over Non Payment Of 8 Months Salaries

Hundreds of workers of Delta Transport Services Limited (Delta Line) reportedly under the pay roll of the Delta State Government before the partial sale of the transport company to Good Is Good Motors on Monday shut down official and commercial activities in Asaba, the state capital over the non payment of their eight months salaries and entitlements.

Coming under the auspices of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE), the workers besieged the company’s head office along the Asaba-Onitsha express way as early as 8:00 am, locking the company’s gate.

Some of the placards bore by the protesters read in part: “Okowa You Are Inhuman, Pay Us Our Eight Months Salaries,”, “Okowa Pay Us Our Gratuities, Pay Us Our Entitlements.”, “Ibru Did Not Sell, Ibori Did Not Sell, Uduaghan Did Not Sell, Okowa Don’t Sell Delta Line.” “God Is Good Must Not Resume In Delta Line.” “Okowa Deltans Say No To Second Tenure.” “Delta Line Is Viable” and “Okowa You Are A Failure” among others.

The protesters called for the immediate payment of their eight months salaries, gratuities and all entitlements.

The workers while accusing governor Okowa of playing clannish politics with the plight of the people, vowed to resist the take over of the company by the management of the God Is Good Motors until their demands were met.

“The management of God Is Good Motors Limited called us to Lagos for a meeting and the chairman of God is Good Motors, Mr. Chidi Ajaere made a pronouncement that all the workers of Delta Line have been sacked.

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“He said everybody should reapply except those above 40 years of age. We also confronted him about our eight months salaries and all entitlements.

“After insulting us, God Is Good chairman Mr. Chidi Ajaere, told us that our eight months salaries and entitlements were not part of the deal he had with governor Okowa and directed us to meet our governor.

“He also told us that even in the MoU he signed with the governor last month in Government House in Asaba nothing of such was mentioned.”

BigPen Online Correspondent in Asaba reports that few hours into the protest, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Festus Ovie Agas sent some emissaries to the protesters for a meeting in his office but was rebuffed.

The protest which was almost turning violent as workers set the company’s security office ablaze and barricaded the Asaba-Benin-Onitsha express way, forced anti-riot policemen shooting tear gas canisters into the air to disperse the protesters.

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