Victor Ezeja
No fewer than 467 ad-hoc staff of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Bauchi State have taken to the streets to protest the non-payment of their allowances.
Bearing placards with inscriptions such as “No pay, no work,” and “We demand our allowances from NPC office,” ad-hoc staffers marched on Wunti Street in the Bauchi metropolis on Tuesday.
The protesting ad-hoc staffers were recruited by NPC to provide support for the 2023 census exercise in the state.
The protesters said they have not been paid training allowances since they completed training held from 23 January – 5th February for Special workforce and facilitators, among others.
Mr Abbas Adamu, who spoke on behalf of the protesting ad-hoc staff while addressing the state Director of the Commission and staff in Bauchi, said, “We have done our job but have yet to receive our allowances.
“On behalf of the Ad-hoc NPC 2023 Census staff who participated as special workforce and facilitators for the upcoming 2023 census exercise.
“We are here to inform the Commission that we in the attached list have not received our training allowances which were conducted at the Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University (ATBU) and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic all in Bauchi State from 23 January – 5th February for Special work force and facilitators, respectively.”
Adamu said several appeals have been made to the state office of the NPC to pay for the omitted facilitators and special workforce trainees, but the response has not been encouraging.
“We protest and present a letter to the office to demand for payment of our allowances within seven days from the date of the receipt of this letter,” he said.
Responding, NPC State Director, Hudu Baballe, commended the Ad-hoc staff for carrying out the protest in a simple and violence-free manner.
“I have listened to all your grievances and complaints and they are all noted. I have gotten the letter which would be forwarded to the Commissioner and the National Headquarters in Abuja,” Baballe said.
He enjoined the aggrieved ad-hoc staff to remain calm as the commission would do everything possible to look into their plight.
The census exercise which was earlier scheduled for March ending was later shifted to take place from the 3rd to 7th of May 2023.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
