By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Taraba State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has felicitated with the entire workers in Nigeria and Taraba State on the occasion of the 2020 May Day celebration.
The State Chairman of the Council, Comrade Peter Gambo said the COVID 19 pandemic is pissing great Challenges to workers and the entire citizens of the state.
According to him, “Globally, there has been an outbreak of Coronavirus otherwise know as COVID 19, which cause illness such as cough, fever and difficult in breathing. People who venture out of their homes for what ever reason, should wear face mask and observe social distancing, everywhere they go such as markets and other Public places”.
” We appreciate Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for proactive measures taken in mitigating the spread of COVID 19 in the state and prompt payment of salaries, however, we will not accept in tempering in the salaries of Local Government Staff and Primary School Teachers”
He call on the Technical Committee on COVID 19 to redouble efforts aimed at checking the spread of the pandemic so as not to get to the community spread.
According to him, the impact of the lockdown order is highly commended, but that there is the need for the provision of palliatives for the poor and the vulnerable in the society.
He appreciated the cordial working relationship between the state government and the organized Labour in the state and called for its sustenance in the interest of industrial harmony.
He commended the state government for employing four hundred workers in the state.
“It is unfortunate that in Taraba State, we are yet to implement the new minimum wage, we therefore appeal to the state government to assist in the implementation of the package to boost moral of workers in the state for maximum productivity in the service”.
In his remarks, the state Chairman, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Victor Olatunde said:
“Last year, we gathered at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, but this year, we have to celebrate in the comfort of our homes in order to safe us from the COVID 19 pandemic which has led to Millions of people fallen ill and hundreds of thousands dead world over within Five months of its discovery”.
He decried the lack of the implementation of the new minimum wage which was approved by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
“The Head of Service engage the organised Labour under the auspices of the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council on the implementation of the New Minimum wage where a resolution was reached between the state and organize labour”
“The Congress hereby call on the State Government to make a pronouncement on the implementation of the New Minimum wage so that an agreement can be writing and signed by both parties, this will be a form of palliative to workers in the state in this period of COVID 19 pandemic”
On Gratuity, he said:
” The inability to pay gratuity regularly is affecting workers in the state. The Governor sometimes in 2019 promised to release the sum of One hundred Million Naira monthly to the pension board to pay the backlog of retirees thereby dashing the hopes of these civil servants.
“We hereby call on the State Government to resume the release of N100 Million Naira only as promised to restore the conference of these retired civil servants in the state” – he added.
He give kudos to the Health workers who have been risking their lives to make people stay alive.
He urged workers to heed to the directives and advise of the Federal and State Government, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC and the Ministry of Health to stay at home and stay safe.
Nasarawa Reporters 