May Day : NLC describes Bagudu as the most worker friendly Governor in Nigeria
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has described Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, as the most workers friendly governor who established unprecedented industrial harmony with trade unions nationwide.
This was the candid assessment of the performance of the governor by the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Murtala Usman in his address at the 2023 May Day celebration this Monday at the Presidential Lodge, Birnin Kebbi.
The theme of the celebration was “Workers Right and Socio-Economic Justice”.
Comrade Murtala Usman acknowledged that Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has maintained prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries, allowances and emoluments as well as payment of gratuity and pension to retired workers without owing any civil servant.
The NLC Chairman however would want the governor to improve on existing working condition of workers including work environment to guarantee full service delivery.
Specifically, he urged the governor to expedite action on putting necessary machinery in place for appropriate implementation of thirty thousand naira minimum wage and commensurate consequential adjustment.
Furthermore, the NLC Chairman appealed to the government to look into the possibility of approving pay rise for workers as was done recently by the Federal Government for approving forty percent pay rise for federal staff beginning from April for social inclusion and poverty alleviation.
Comrade Murtala Usman also solicited for approval for harmonious three increments of pension for pensioners, 12%, 15.5% and 33% including 30% consequential adjustment.
On the issue of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, the labour leader requested the administration to implement payment of hazard allowances to nurses and midwives, full implementation of CONHESS, improvement of security in areas prone to insecurity to enable nurses and midwives discharge their services unhindered.
In addition, he called for salary adjustment for lecturers of College of Nursing Sciences.
Comrade Murtala Usman strongly appealed to the governor to regularize the appointment of Acting Head of Service and other Acting Permanent Secretaries into substantive appointment to improve productivity in service.
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The NLC Chairman, expressed confidence on the capability and ability of the incoming governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu as a trade unionist, to build upon the industrial harmony instituted by Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu with labour movement.
Addressing the gathering, the acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his untiring effort, foresight and consideration for keeping the Civil Service alive to its full capacity in productivity.
The Head of Service said this has been evident in the prompt payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements to all categories of workers.
He added that the incumbent administration has paid gratuity to retired workers up to December, 2022, and thanked the governor for his goodwill in identifying with the aspirations of civil servants and care for their wellbeing.
Alhaji Safiyanu Bena announced that a standing committee has been working to look into the possibility of payment of thirty-thousand-naira minimum wage and pay rise arising from the forty percent pay rise by federal government.
On the payment of 2017/2018 gratuity for local government, the Head of Service made it clear that the state government detected ambiguity in the process, saying that immediately the issue has been cleared, payment would be made because Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu would not like to leave any outstanding payment of gratuity behind.
Celebrating the May Day,Governor Atiku Bagudu congratulated the newly elected State NLC Chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman and other Executive Members on their election, saying the gathering this Monday was the first public event between him and the new labour leadership.
The governor also thanked those who served before the present labour leaders.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu personally led prayers and one minute silence for the repose of the souls of the unfortunate incident this Sunday in Danko-Wasagu Local Government area where a number of policemen, vigilantes and innocent Nigerians lost their lives.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu further spoke about another unfortunate event few days ago during which some security operatives engaged KAEDCO Staff in Birnin Kebbi over power outage, praying that such incident would never happen again.
The governor directed the Secretary to the State Government to hold consultations with both parties to resolve all areas of misunderstanding and reach amicable solution.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu thanked the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, for their support to his administration since assumption of power which facilitated improved welfare for workers and industrial peace in the state.
The governor described Kebbi State as most worker-friendly in Nigeria and was the first or second to implement the new minimum wage.
He described the incoming new governor as remarkable trade unionist who would strengthen government- labour relations.
Representative of TUC, Comrade Mahe Abubakar delivered votes of thank at the May Day Celebration.
