The workers who were stunned to discover that parts of their salaries had been slashed below what they used to earn monthly said the deduction will affect the way they live.

Some of the concerned workers from the three senatorial zones of the state spoke to The News Agency of Nigeria on the condition of anonymity revealed that “even though we are yet to be paid our July salaries but the document shows that the salary wage bill has been tampered with.

“You know Local Government salaries go to four components of the mainstream, health workers CONHESS, Local Education Authority for the Teachers, Veterinary clinic staff and pensions,” he said.

A GL 07 senior staff of the veterinary in one of the local government areas revealed that he has been working for 32 years and receiving N60,000 monthly payment but now brought to N35,000 “how can I cope with the present situation where a bag of maize sells for N25,000″.

Another Local Government worker said his present salary doesn’t meet up with his demands not to talk of being slashed.

When contacted, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Yobe State chapter, Bashehu Mustapha, said, “We need to commend Yobe State government because based on salaries, most of the states in the federation don’t even pay their workers salaries monthly and this thing you are talking about is a temporary thing because of the economic situation, whenever it improves, it will be reverted back.”

He added that the union is part of the decision committee and is concerned about the plight of its members.

Responding, the Yobe State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who spoke through the Public Relations Officer, Alhassan Sule Mamudo explained that it is a unanimous decision taken along with all the local government stakeholders.

“The Yobe State government under Governor Mai Mala Buni is much concerned about the welfare of its workers, that is why salaries are paid monthly unlike some states that find it difficult to pay salaries.

“Can you imagine that 90 per cent of the local government allocation goes to the payment of salaries? We’re trying and people should appreciate us.”