…wants state to revisit minimum wage request
The newly elected Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Gombe State chapter, has promised to partner with the All Progressives Congress-led administration in the state, towards improving the wellbeing of civil servants and the generality of the people.
It also affirmed that the era of fighting government was over.
The new chairman of the Council, Yusuf Bello, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the deputy governor in his office.
Bello, who took over from Mohammed Adamu, following the expiration of his (Adamu) tenure, visited in company of members of the executive council.
According to him, the need to continue to dialogue with the state government, in pursuit of a conducive atmosphere for work and productivity, as well as for the rights and benefits of workers, is the reason the state NLC adopted the jaw-jaw policy, instead of the war-war policy.
“Days of fighting the government over benefits are over, we shall adopt dialogue in all our dealings with the government for the benefit of our workers in the state,” Bello assured further.
The NLC chairman noted that the deputy governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, who presided over the minimum wage negotiation in the past, was the Chairman, Standing Committee on Minimum Wage, and therefore was in a better position to appreciate their visit and prioritise the NLC demands.
He added that his NLC-led exco was on record to be the first to visit in the re-elected state government, as such, he requested the deputy governor to reciprocate the gesture by revisiting the issues bordering on implementation of minimum wage that had been pending, since there was a remarkable increase in the income and the internally generated revenue accruable to the state.
Bello disclosed that “the officials of NLC in the state, had, during the negotiation in the past, considered the unfortunate position of the state funds, having been shown the totality of the income, then, but are now pleading for the inclusion of the local government employees in the minimum wage payment, since there is an appreciation.”
The labour leader congratulated the governor, his deputy on their re-election, pledging the unalloyed support to the administration.
Responding, the deputy governor, Jatau, appreciated the visit and the support given by the workers in the state, which aided their re-election.
He commended the manner in which the members conducted themselves during their Quadrennial Delegate Congress when the new council was elected.
On issues bordering on the minimum wage implementation at the local government level, Jatau explained that most of the local governments were overloaded with workers, and as such, could not shoulder the increase if implemented.
Jatau said, “Considering the state of the nation’s economy, increase in salaries is not the immediate solution, but, provision of infrastructural facilities and social amenities, aimed at subsidising the livelihood of the salary earners is the solution.”
The deputy governor called on the NLC officials to insist on capacity building of the workers in view of the technological advancement of this age, so that they may blend with the new changes and challenges.
He nonetheless assured them of always leaving his doors open to welcome and listen to their demands for good governance and wellbeing of workers and the residents of Gombe State.
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