The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday urged Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno to give top priority to workers’ welfare and demands.
Mr. Titus Abana, the Borno Chairman of the coungress, made the call at the celebration of this year’s Workers’ Day in Maiduguri on Sunday.
He urged the state Government to ensure full implementation of all workers’ demands.
The theme for the event is: “The Working class, and the Quest for Economic Revival”.
According to him, the 2016 May Day is coming at a time when Nigerian workers are experiencing the dark effect of bad leadership.
“It is on this note that we decided to join our colleagues nationwide to commemorate the day despite the security challenges.
“We want Borno government to focus on the workers demands, which include full implementation of the minimum wage, allowances for local government staff and primary school teachers.
“Your Excellency, over the years you have been magnanimous in releasing a sum of N150 million to service gratuities of retirees on monthly basis, but for some months now the amount is not released.
“The problem has continued to multiply because civil servants continue to retire and are not paid in time.
“There is a need to also consider the upward review of pensions and also payment of pensioners’ outstanding balance of 142 per cent arrears.
“The government should also implement the owner occupier housing system to enable our workers earned their own houses.
“Some local government councils like Askira Uba, Biu, Hawul, Asikira and Chibok are yet to benefit from the N18,000 minimum wages, the government should please look into their issues.
“Consequently, implementation of approved 30 per cent CONHESS to local government health workers is also still lingering which should be looked into,’’ Abana also appealed.
