Familiarisation visit: Newly inaugurated Gombe NLC Excos to adopt dialogue over confrontation
…pledges continuous support to the ruling government
The Newly elected Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Gombe State Chapter, has stressed the commitment to partner with the APC-led administration in the state towards the well being of civil servants and the generality of the people in the state.
The statement was contained in an address of the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Yusuf Aish Bello, when he led the members of the council on a familiarisation visit to the Deputy Governor’s office.
Our correspondent reports that this Council was elected following the expiration of tenure of Mohammed Adamu’s cabinet as NLC Gombe Chairman.
Bello said the new council intends to continue in dialogue with the state government in pursuit of a conducive atmosphere of work and productivity as well as for the rights and benefits of workers.
He stressed that, “days of fighting the Government over benefits are over, we shall adopt dialogue in all their dealings with the Government for the benefit of our workers in the state.”
The NLC Chairman recalled that the Deputy Governor who presided over the Minimum Wage negotiation in the past is the Chairman standing Committee on minimum wage and stood in a better position to appreciate their visit and understand them better, hence being the first to be visited in the circle of Government.
He requested the Deputy Governor to revisit the issues of implementation of Minimum Wage that were pending since there is now a remarkable increase in the income and Internally Generated Revenue accruable to the state.
He said, 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, and are now pleading for the inclusion of the Local Government Employees in the minimum wage payment since there is an appreciation.
He congratulated the Governor, his Deputy and the APC for their re-election, pledging their unalloyed support to the administration.
Responding, the Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, appreciated the visit and the support given by the workers in the state to ensure their re-election.
The Deputy Governor commended the manner in which the members conducted themselves during their Quadrennial Delegate Congress when the new council was elected.
On issues bordering the minimum wage implementation at the Local Government level, the Deputy Governor explained that, most of the local governments are overloaded with workers and as such cannot shoulder the increase, if implemented.
He said, “considering the state of the nations 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.”
He 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 well with the new changes and challenges.
He assured them of always leaving his door open to welcome and listen to them towards good governance and well being of workers and the residents of Gombe State.
The Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Bala Mohammed Kaltungo, and the Director Administration and Finance, Mrs Dinatu Lakwanung Rims, were in attendance during the visit.
Jack Tasha
Senior Special Assistant (SSA)Media and Publicity to the Governor,
(Deputy Governor’s Office)
