From GODWIN AGIA, Jalingo
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have called on Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku to pay the outstanding six month salary arrears of local government staff and five-month of primary school teachers in the state.
Chairman of the NLC, Peter Jediel and his TUC counterpart, Sule Abasu made the demand on Monday during the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Jolly Nyame Stadium Jalingo, the state capital.
Jediel commended the doggedness, patience, sacrifice, and perseverance of workers in Taraba State over the years in ensuring maximum productivity in the state civil service despite challenges.
Speaking on the May Day theme, ‘Workers Rights and Socioeconomic Justice’, Jediel noted that this year’s celebration speaks about inclusivity and sustainable society.
Jediel called on Governor Ishaku to pay the outstanding salaries of the affected workers because it is their right not a privilege.
He said; “We want to draw the attention of the state government on some of the plights of workers in the state.
“The major one has to do with the outstanding six months salaries of local government staff and five months for primary school teachers in the state as well as the non-payment of yearly increment which has stopped for three years now.
“Also, the backlog of gratuities for retirees in the state from 2015 and inability to capture over 1,000 retirees in to the monthly pension.
“We further implore the state government to hasten the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers in the state to boost their morale and enhance maximum productivity in the civil service.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Sule Abasu expressed dismay that for more than two years, worker’s yearly increments and financial benefits on upgrades have been thwarted.
He said; “Workers are going through pains especially in the face of skyrocketing prices of commodities in the market. We are calling on government to, as a matter of urgency, address these debacle in the interest of industrial harmony”.
Responding, the state Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, represented by the state Head of Service, Mrs. Suzi Nathan, commended the workers for their contributions to the development of the state.
