Council workers shut down Warri over unpaid salaries

For several hours, Warri and adjoining towns were literally paralyzed following protests by local government workers over non-payment of one year’s salary by the Delta state government.

Major roads and streets in the metropolis were taken over by aggrieved workers armed with placards pleading with governor Ifeanyi Okowa to pay their arrears.


The protest is coming barely two weeks after a similar one where the aggrieved workers shut down the Effurun axis, which is the gateway into Warri.

The protest, it was learnt, was organised by the National Union of Local Government Workers (NULGE) and some human rights bodies to draw the attention of the state government to their plights.

The workers are miffed that the government has not shown any serious concern to offset the one year salary owed them inspite of the hard times caused by recession.

One of the protesters who identified himself as Moses Oritsemi said, “The hardship local government employees are passing through in the state is no longer bearable. We’re really suffering. Many of us can no longer cater for our families or send our children to school because we are no longer paid salaries. Over one year salary is outstanding and government especially governor Okowa is not concerned. He has not said anything or done anything. We are tired. We are hungry and frustrated.