It is as a last resort that we, the workers of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria have decided to vent our grievance over the 25% illegal deductions from our October salaries.

This 25% deduction was authorized by the bishop of the diocese, His Lordship, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe.

We were made to understand that His Lordship authorized this deduction for the purpose of building a special school for the disabled.

While this is a noble objective, we are aggrieved that the manner it is carried out amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul, especially when it is understood that more than 95% of workers under the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi earn less than the set national minimum wage of N30,000 ($82) monthly.

It is our further understanding that His Lordship ordered that 25% of the monthly salaries of all workers in the diocese be withheld henceforth for the aforementioned project till the set sum required (which we do not know) is realized.

Already, the 25% deductions have commenced for the October salaries paid, to the pain and bitterness of our workers.

We the workers of Makurdi Diocese feel bad, cheated and trampled upon. We did not consent to this (and any future deductions for that matter), neither were our opinions sought prior to this sad, infamous implementation.

This act, we believe, is against the closely guarded virtues of FREE, Christian giving - out of compassion and reason and not out of COMPULSION or FORCE.

Our prayers are:

1. Since we cannot reach the bishop directly, we wish to use this medium to appeal to anyone who can: we need the October (25%) deductions from our salaries refunded.

2. While we are in support of the special project, we appeal that funds be sourced elsewhere, not from our VERY meager salaries!

3. We are appealing that NO FURTHER DEDUCTIONS BE MADE ON OUR VERY MEAGER SALARIES HENCEFORTH.

4. We wish to draw the attention of the bishop that most of us affected earn less than N20,000 ($55) monthly. Any deduction from this amount heaps more suffering on our already weak, trouble laden shoulders. If anything, we encourage the bishop, in the spirit of Christianity (WHICH HE REPRESENTS) to cause an upward review of ALL our salaries.

SIGNED:
MDW.

P.S.

If you are an affected worker of the Diocese, any worker at all or someone who hates injustice, please, kindly share this update on your respective channels for greater coverage.

Thank you.

noted. now let us call lala