Anambra NLC Demands Salary Deduction Freeze, HOS Fumes Over Journalists’ Calls

The Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the state government to suspend further salary deductions affecting workers pending the completion of the work of the committee set up to investigate the allegations.

For the past three months, workers in Anambra State have complained about deductions from their monthly salaries, describing the development as unacceptable.

The workers lamented that even those who are punctual and regular at work have been affected by the deductions. They accused the state government of adopting punitive measures against them over their absence from work during the Monday sit-at-home order enforced by the separatist group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the past five years.

Speaking with reporters, the Chairman of the NLC in the state, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, said the issue was raised during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, prompting Governor Charles Soludo to set up a committee to investigate the matter.

According to him, the committee comprises the NLC Chairman, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Commissioner for Finance, and the Head of Service (HOS).

Nwafor explained that during the committee’s meeting, it was resolved that the government should suspend further deductions pending the submission of the committee’s final report. 

He added that responsibility for reviewing the deductions was subsequently assigned to the Commissioner for Finance and the Head of Service.

“We met last week and resolved that the deductions should, for now, be put on hold while the Commissioner for Finance and the Head of Service manage the situation. What we are saying is that organised labour will stay action for now while the government looks into the matter,” he said.

However, when this reporter contacted the Head of Service, Barrister Ngozi Anuli-Iwuozo, for comments on the matter, she reacted angrily.

She questioned why journalists had continued to call her and insisted that members of the press should stop disturbing her with telephone calls.

This reporter had earlier contacted her on Monday, when she explained that she was attending an Executive Council meeting and could not determine when the meeting would end.

Based on that response, the reporter called again on Tuesday, June 9, at about 1:25 p.m. to seek an update. However, she said she was attending another meeting and expressed frustration over repeated calls from journalists.

“I am in another meeting. Why are journalists calling me every time? The last one was from Tribune; today it is Telegraph. Please, you people should stop calling me,” she said angrily.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, told our reporter that the matter was already being addressed. 

He disclosed that some affected workers had begun receiving the balance of their deducted salaries.

Mefor explained that most of those affected were workers stationed outside the state headquarters. 

According to him, the Ministry of Finance relies on attendance records and may not be directly aware of which workers reported for duty.

He said it is the responsibility of unit heads to ensure that workers are properly guided on where and how to clock in their attendance whenever they report for work.

“It is based on the information available to the Ministry of Finance regarding those who came to work and those who did not, as reflected in the attendance records. This situation mainly affects workers in the outstations and not those at the headquarters,” 

“Again, people have started receiving their full salaries, and many of those who failed to clock in properly were affected. That is what the records have shown.”he said.

He further stated that the Ministry of Information has about 185 workers, the majority of whom are posted to local government areas as information officers.

“Here in the Ministry of Information, we have about 185 workers, and most of them are serving in outstations as information officers in the local government areas. We provided evidence of their attendance at work to the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment,” he added.