With barely three weeks before the commissioning of Bayelsa Cargo Airport, the more than 150 workers have abandoned their duty posts, insisting they would only return to work on the condition that, their 8 months salary arrears were paid.
The workers who are yet to be issued appointment letters have not been paid since their recruitment last January. But usually dependable sources told our correspondent that the workers who were recently subjected to a staff verification exercise were excited when two months ago information reached them that the accounts of the Airport had been credited with two months salary by the Bayelsa State Government
“We can confirm on good authority that the State Government has credited our accounts but to our surprise management has refused to pay us. No one seems to be ready to offer us any explanation”, a source told our correspondent. Investigations by this magazine also revealed that the letters of appointment for staffers who scaled the recent staff verification exercise are ready but no explanation was given as to what may be responsible for the delay in their issuance.
Usually dependable sources told our correspondent that the protest by the staff notwithstanding, all seems set for the official commissioning of the Airport later this month when the first commercial flight would arrive the Bayelsa Cargo Airport, said an official of the State government who spoke to us on condition of anonymity.