Borno State workers Demand Full Implementation of Minimum wage; Payment of Pensions and Gratuities
The Borno State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress, has demanded that the state government lifts the embargo on employment into its public service and implements the N18,000 minimum wage.
The NLC chairman, Comrade Ali Abana, while giving a May Day speech at the Maiduguri State Hotel, also demanded that outstanding gratuities and pension of retired workers in the state be paid immediately and the issue of joblessness and poverty in the state be addressed.
Abana said, “This year’s May Day celebration is coming at a very critical time in the history of the state, when for the very first time in our political history, happenings in the state had made a critical item on the discourse that changed the political map of the country.
“Our people have suffered immensely in the last six years and for once, we have been joined by well-meaning Nigerians to send a message that our votes must count and to address workers’ problems, so that the cordial relationship between government and labour is sustained in moving the state forward.
“In view of the importance of the May Day, we felt that it is equally important to join our colleagues nationwide to commemorate this day, despite the security challenges in Borno State.”
The NLC boss also noted that in democratic settings, the citizens should be the main beneficiaries of government programmes and policies in the education, transport, housing, water, electricity supply and security.
Abana said, “While appreciating the implementation of workers’ demands, we have equally observed that there are so many areas where public funds could be channelled to, but like Oliver Twist, we want to appeal to you to look into our demands with a view to solving them.
“Such demands include a 12-point demands on the payments and implementation of N18,000 minimum wage and payments of outstanding 10 per cent and 30 per cent CONHESS for health and animal workers in the state and councils.
“The other demands we are making here today also include payments of gratuity for councils and primary school teachers, training and retraining of staff in the civil service, implementation of the owner/occupier housing scheme at the five housing estates and the reactivation of five dormant industries across the state.”
Governor Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, replied the workers, saying that the administration was looking forward to a continued cordial working relationship with the leadership of labour in the state.
“As you may be aware, the state government has accorded topmost priority to the improvements of workers’ living conditions in the state through prompt payments of salaries, promotions, implementation of yearly increments, payment of N18,000 minimum wage, including CONTISS II and CONHESS to tertiary institutions and health workers, as well as that of local government workers and teachers in the state”, he said.